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A Haunting at Holkham
The thrilling new mystery from the bestselling author of Lady in Waiting and Murder on Mustique. Set during WWII in Holkham, think Downton Abbey meets Knives Out ...
It's Christmas 1943 and Lady Anne Coke has returned to Holkham Hall from Scotland. But her home is now an army base, with large sections out of bounds. And 11-year-old Anne is in the care of a new governess, whom she hates and believes to be hiding something. At least her beloved grandfather is there with her, to share stories and keep her entertained.
But even though she's been told to stay away from certain parts of the house, Anne knows secrets about the hall that others do not; the passageways and the cellars that allow her to move around unnoticed, watching. And when mysterious events lead to a murder and disappearance, Anne is determined to uncover the truth.
It's Christmas 1943 and Lady Anne Coke has returned to Holkham Hall from Scotland. But her home is now an army base, with large sections out of bounds. And 11-year-old Anne is in the care of a new governess, whom she hates and believes to be hiding something. At least her beloved grandfather is there with her, to share stories and keep her entertained.
But even though she's been told to stay away from certain parts of the house, Anne knows secrets about the hall that others do not; the passageways and the cellars that allow her to move around unnoticed, watching. And when mysterious events lead to a murder and disappearance, Anne is determined to uncover the truth.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2021
131 people are currently reading
716 people want to read
About the author
Anne Glenconner
12 books187 followersAnne Veronica (Coke) Tennant, LVO, Baroness Glenconner is a daughter of Thomas W.E. Coke, MVO, GOC, 5th Earl of Leicester and Elizabeth Mary (Yorke) Tennant, Countess of Leicester.
Lady Glenconner served as a maid of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. She was Extra Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon from 1971 until the Princess died in 2002.
In 2019, Lady Glenconner’s memoir was published by Hodder & Stoughton. Speaking on her reason for publishing the book, she said: "I was so fed up with people writing such horrible things about Princess Margaret."
Lady Glenconner served as a maid of honour at the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. She was Extra Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon from 1971 until the Princess died in 2002.
In 2019, Lady Glenconner’s memoir was published by Hodder & Stoughton. Speaking on her reason for publishing the book, she said: "I was so fed up with people writing such horrible things about Princess Margaret."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
January 2, 2023
You'll have to give me a minute, Charles said, sitting down next to her and still staring at the note. 'Johnnie had a bit of a stream of consciousness thing going, didn't he? It's like reading a Norfolk version of James Joyce.'
This easy reading country house crime novel is set in Holkham Hall in Norfolk (where I spent a lot of time visiting the local park, in and beach – at the end of Lady Anne’s Drive) and written by someone who grew up in that hall – Baroness Glenconner. Long time lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret and better known in literary terms for her 2019 memoir “Lady in Waiting: My Extraordinary Life in the Shadow of the Crown”.
And in fact this is an extremely autobiographical novel as the main character is Lady Anne Coke – daughter of the 5th Earl of Leicester (i.e. the author) and starts in 1950 where with the Holkham estate struggling with post-war austerity she has taken a role as a travelling saleswoman selling the estate’s pottery (again as did the author).
The book opens with the death of her beloved grandfather just ahead of her own coming-out ceremony – the departure from the real story being that his death is slightly suspicious (an unexplained fall down some stairs he should have known well).
Further mystery (which Anne is assisted in solving by a fictional socialist artist who stays in one of the tenanted cottages) is supplied by the near simultaneous death of a childhood friend (known for his love of drink) and the discovery on her grandfather’s body of both a fake version of the family heirloom jewels (the real-life Coke necklace – with in the story the real jewels seemingly missing) and the name of Anne’s hated childhood Nanny.
This immediately takes Anne back to when she lived at the Hall in 1943 – just before the return of her parents. She at the time is obsessed with the Hall’s ghost Lady Mary, her childhood friend with the possibility of spies (the Hall being part occupied by various military forces) but as Anne looks back she realises that a lot of what they saw and suspected may be caught up with the 1950 mystery and the book switches between the two periods.
The book’s autobiographical nature is both its strength and its weakness
As a strength it adds authenticity and colour. I particularly found the post war struggles of the estate interesting – especially faced with a second set of death duties and was reminded very much of the current success of the thriving Holkham estate and how it has become a role model for an estate closer to my Norfolk home – Heydon which also faced a double inheritance tax burden in more modern times.
As a weakness it makes it too much of a childhood memoir, with a relatively slight and not particularly gripping mystery element tagged on - and also adding I think a little too much score settling with the author’s actual Nanny.
It’s like reading a Norfolk version of Agatha Christie with a heavy influence of Enid Blyton’s Famous Five.
November 22, 2021
Prior to reading this I had read a news article about the author and her fascinating life. Don´t know why but I’ve always enjoyed very much stories about British aristocracy, so when I learned A haunting at Holkham drew from some of the author’s real life experiences I was so excited. After reading it I must say that, although the writing was good, I didn’t find the actual plot that engaging.
After her grandfather’s sudden death, Anne thinks it is a bit suspicious, so she tries to get to the bottom of it and several other mysteries that will go back to the early 40s when she was a child living at Holkham with her grandad and a devious governess that might have been implicated in the current affairs.
I loved the blend of fact and fiction, especially in the past timeline, but at the same time this past timeline wasn’t that exciting. It was more a telling of her daily life with not much mystery around it. The governess character was absolutely despising and it was shocking to learn how that really happened to the author when she was a child.
In the present timeline (as present as 1950 can be), Anne enlists the help of one of her family’s tenants to investigate. I liked the pair they made, it was interesting to see the clash of ideas of the upper and lower classes.
With also a “ghost story” thrown in there, the story had certain gothic vibes at times that added a nice touch.
I’ve heard both Lady in waiting and Murder on Mustique are both really good, so despite A haunting at Holkham was not my favorite I’m still willing to give the author another chance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
After her grandfather’s sudden death, Anne thinks it is a bit suspicious, so she tries to get to the bottom of it and several other mysteries that will go back to the early 40s when she was a child living at Holkham with her grandad and a devious governess that might have been implicated in the current affairs.
I loved the blend of fact and fiction, especially in the past timeline, but at the same time this past timeline wasn’t that exciting. It was more a telling of her daily life with not much mystery around it. The governess character was absolutely despising and it was shocking to learn how that really happened to the author when she was a child.
In the present timeline (as present as 1950 can be), Anne enlists the help of one of her family’s tenants to investigate. I liked the pair they made, it was interesting to see the clash of ideas of the upper and lower classes.
With also a “ghost story” thrown in there, the story had certain gothic vibes at times that added a nice touch.
I’ve heard both Lady in waiting and Murder on Mustique are both really good, so despite A haunting at Holkham was not my favorite I’m still willing to give the author another chance.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2022
Perfectly pleasant and easy to read , but I didn’t love it to the point I was desperate to keep reading. Even so I finished it quite quickly. It’s a pity as the location the story was set is close to where I am, and I love vintage style crime mysteries. Never-mind, I might have more enjoyment with the other of the authors mystery stories.
June 16, 2024
Anne Coke ist auf einer Vertriebsreise, als sie erfährt, dass ihr Großvater die Treppe hinuntergestürzt und gestorben ist. Sie kehrt nach Hause zurück und muss feststellen, dass wohl ein wertvolles Collier ausgetauscht wurde und noch manch andere Dinge im Haus verschwunden sind. Zusammen mit Charles Elwood, einem Maler aus dem Ort, fängt sie an zu recherchieren, was passiert sein könnte und muss sich dabei ihren lang verdrängten Ängsten stellen.
Anne Glenconner bietet uns hier einen verzwickten Krimi und gleichzeitig eine Gesellschaftsstudie Englands kurz nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg. Die Erfahrungen, die Anne in diesem Buch mit ihrem ehemaligen Kindermädchen gemacht hat, musste die Autorin wohl teilweise selbst erleben. Unglaublich, wie grausam da teilweise mit den Kindern umgegangen wurde.
Besonders gut gefallen haben mir die kleinen Scharmützel, die Anne mit Charles Elwood austrägt. Charles wird im Ort nur der Kommunist genannt, er selbst bezeichnet sich als demokratischer Sozialist. So hat er teilweise genaue Vorstellungen vom Leben auf einem herrschaftlichen Anwesen, wie Holkham es ist. Dass er da an manchen Ecken falsch liegt und so ein Anwesen die Inhaber teilweise in den Ruin treiben, wird ihm erst durch die Diskussionen mit Anne klar.
Der Krimi ist durchweg spannend und man erfährt in Rückblenden was im Jahr 1943 passiert ist. So lernt man Anne auch als Kind kennen und erlebt hautnah die Grausamkeiten des Kindermädchens. Nach und nach löst sich dann auch auf, was damals wirklich passiert ist.
Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen. Der Schreibstil ist schön und man merkt, dass die Autorin weiß von was sie schreibt. Von mir daher eine Leseempfehlung.
Anne Glenconner bietet uns hier einen verzwickten Krimi und gleichzeitig eine Gesellschaftsstudie Englands kurz nach dem zweiten Weltkrieg. Die Erfahrungen, die Anne in diesem Buch mit ihrem ehemaligen Kindermädchen gemacht hat, musste die Autorin wohl teilweise selbst erleben. Unglaublich, wie grausam da teilweise mit den Kindern umgegangen wurde.
Besonders gut gefallen haben mir die kleinen Scharmützel, die Anne mit Charles Elwood austrägt. Charles wird im Ort nur der Kommunist genannt, er selbst bezeichnet sich als demokratischer Sozialist. So hat er teilweise genaue Vorstellungen vom Leben auf einem herrschaftlichen Anwesen, wie Holkham es ist. Dass er da an manchen Ecken falsch liegt und so ein Anwesen die Inhaber teilweise in den Ruin treiben, wird ihm erst durch die Diskussionen mit Anne klar.
Der Krimi ist durchweg spannend und man erfährt in Rückblenden was im Jahr 1943 passiert ist. So lernt man Anne auch als Kind kennen und erlebt hautnah die Grausamkeiten des Kindermädchens. Nach und nach löst sich dann auch auf, was damals wirklich passiert ist.
Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen. Der Schreibstil ist schön und man merkt, dass die Autorin weiß von was sie schreibt. Von mir daher eine Leseempfehlung.
November 3, 2021
love Anne Glenconner's writing style! And I loved the fact that this book is so very well balanced between fiction and biography. It's probably not my very favourite by this author (and I urge you to read also the others), but I would highly reccomend it for its unique style and plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review:
December 26, 2021
I bought this book purely because my parents live near Holkham, it’s somewhere I’ve been several times and I always like a book set somewhere I know. Then I read the dedication, and saw that it was to the 5th Earl of Leicester and his wife, the author’s parents. Then, of course, I instantly made the connection that Anne was a member of the Coke family and had grown up in Holkham Hall itself (her memoir had completely passed me by!)
I wasn’t sure what to expect, and to be honest Ed expected more of a vanity project than anything else. What I got was a pleasant, slow-burn novel of what I’d class as cozy crime with a slight gothic edge. The lead character is a debutante and pottery saleswoman turned amateur sleuth when her grandfather dies in less than straightforward circumstances. With the help of one of the Estate’s tenants, a democratic socialist with a dim view of inherited estates, she tracks down the clues that lead her to the truth of what happened.
It’s an easy, gentle read, rich with historical detail and snippets of Anne’s life (which some readers will recognise from her memoir Lady in Waiting), all of which I enjoyed.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, and to be honest Ed expected more of a vanity project than anything else. What I got was a pleasant, slow-burn novel of what I’d class as cozy crime with a slight gothic edge. The lead character is a debutante and pottery saleswoman turned amateur sleuth when her grandfather dies in less than straightforward circumstances. With the help of one of the Estate’s tenants, a democratic socialist with a dim view of inherited estates, she tracks down the clues that lead her to the truth of what happened.
It’s an easy, gentle read, rich with historical detail and snippets of Anne’s life (which some readers will recognise from her memoir Lady in Waiting), all of which I enjoyed.
November 2, 2023
I enjoyed this book, it didn't hold many surprises but it was a well-written mystery set in a dual timeline.
An almost empty Country House, WW2 fears and worries, and the arrival of a new tutor are just some of the troubles young Anne has to deal with!
Now older and wiser Lady Anne is called back to Holkham and has to face her fears and her ghosts...
An almost empty Country House, WW2 fears and worries, and the arrival of a new tutor are just some of the troubles young Anne has to deal with!
Now older and wiser Lady Anne is called back to Holkham and has to face her fears and her ghosts...
April 22, 2022
Enjoyed this book and hope to visit Holkham soon!
September 21, 2023
Drawing on her own life experiences, the author tells a mystery tale set during and just after WW2 at her family’s ancestral estate. Her fictional retelling of the sadistic behavior of her governess is even more chilling than her description of those tortures in her memoirs.
September 2, 2024
I actually didn’t finish this book. The plot seemed interesting to me, but if I’m to be honest, it didn’t grip me at all. It wasn’t very well written either and so found myself confused at most of what was happening. Maybe I’ll try it again another time.
November 1, 2021
Wow! This book is AMAZING! It is intriguing, full of twists, turns, and shocking moments, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and so much more. Whenever I picked up "A Haunting at Holkam", I was whisked back in time, and went on such an emotional journey with this story.
I have previously read Lady Anne Glenconner's historical mystery "Murder on Mustique", and thought it was incredible. As soon as I saw that she was writing another one, I just knew I needed to add it to the top of my to-be-read pile! Lady Glenconner's writing style is incredibly visceral and vivid, and she truly transports the reader back in time. The past comes to life right off of the page. Her attention to detail, descriptive writing, and storytelling truly make each and every aspect of the novel feel so real. Every location and character is so specifically thought-out and written, and I was hooked from the first page to the last. Moreover, I felt each piece of the puzzle of the mystery (ies) becomes known to the reader at the exact moment it needs to be. She seamlessly weaves people and events from her own life with fiction throughout the book as well.
This book takes place mainly over two time periods: 1943, and 1950. In the earlier time period, Lady Anne Coke is living with her grandfather at Holkam. Her parents, who are in Egypt, hire a new governess for Anne named Miss Crane. She treats Anne absolutely horrifically, and one of Anne's escapes is to take photographs, as well develop them with her grandfather. When Anne and her friend Johnnie decide that Anne should try to take a photograph of a ghost who lives at Holkam, named Lady Mary, Anne decides to do so. Soon, she begins to stumble on more and more secrets.
In 1950, Anne's grandfather passes away, and everyone believes it is an accident. He is found with a fake necklace in his pocket, which leads to more and more questions. Soon, Anne's childhood friend Johnnie disappears, leaving behind a wife and young child. With the help of her new friend Charles, will Anne be able to solve what has really been going on? Are any or all of these events connected? And, if so, how? What other mysteries and crimes are surrounding what is going on? You will just have to read to find out.
I truly felt that the switching of time periods worked seamlessly, and could really see the connection of why Lady Glenconner went back and forth time wise as she did, when she did.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, I highly recommend this book! It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next, and I hope Lady Glenconner continues to write more and more books!
Thank you so much to Mobius Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, I could not put it down! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Please Note: This book deals with some heavy topics.
I have previously read Lady Anne Glenconner's historical mystery "Murder on Mustique", and thought it was incredible. As soon as I saw that she was writing another one, I just knew I needed to add it to the top of my to-be-read pile! Lady Glenconner's writing style is incredibly visceral and vivid, and she truly transports the reader back in time. The past comes to life right off of the page. Her attention to detail, descriptive writing, and storytelling truly make each and every aspect of the novel feel so real. Every location and character is so specifically thought-out and written, and I was hooked from the first page to the last. Moreover, I felt each piece of the puzzle of the mystery (ies) becomes known to the reader at the exact moment it needs to be. She seamlessly weaves people and events from her own life with fiction throughout the book as well.
This book takes place mainly over two time periods: 1943, and 1950. In the earlier time period, Lady Anne Coke is living with her grandfather at Holkam. Her parents, who are in Egypt, hire a new governess for Anne named Miss Crane. She treats Anne absolutely horrifically, and one of Anne's escapes is to take photographs, as well develop them with her grandfather. When Anne and her friend Johnnie decide that Anne should try to take a photograph of a ghost who lives at Holkam, named Lady Mary, Anne decides to do so. Soon, she begins to stumble on more and more secrets.
In 1950, Anne's grandfather passes away, and everyone believes it is an accident. He is found with a fake necklace in his pocket, which leads to more and more questions. Soon, Anne's childhood friend Johnnie disappears, leaving behind a wife and young child. With the help of her new friend Charles, will Anne be able to solve what has really been going on? Are any or all of these events connected? And, if so, how? What other mysteries and crimes are surrounding what is going on? You will just have to read to find out.
I truly felt that the switching of time periods worked seamlessly, and could really see the connection of why Lady Glenconner went back and forth time wise as she did, when she did.
If you enjoy historical mysteries, I highly recommend this book! It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next, and I hope Lady Glenconner continues to write more and more books!
Thank you so much to Mobius Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, I could not put it down! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Please Note: This book deals with some heavy topics.
January 7, 2025
Thought it was based on a real story, then it was about a ghost so quickly realised it wasn’t. Turns out it IS based on Anne Glenconners real life but with added details, bit confusing. So many characters I got so confused who was who but was also a nice way to educate myself on post-war Britain & aristocracy & was easy to immerse yourself in the book with the map & highly detailed descriptions of life at Holkham. Probably wouldn’t recommend but I got it from a “blind date” with a book which was fun. Overall, interesting story but a bit boring & too long.
November 3, 2021
I love Anne Glenconner's writing style! And I loved the fact that this book is so very well balanced between fiction and biography. It's probably not my very favourite by this author (and I urge you to read also the others), but I would highly reccomend it for its unique style and plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review:
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review:
December 27, 2022
A Haunting at Holkham is another great mystery blending autobiography and fiction, from the writer of Murder on Mustique and Lady in Waiting, Anne Glenconnor. With a story and setting like Downton Abbey meets Midsomer Murders, this is a very enjoyable and fairly light read, with beautifully drawn characters. Highly recommended!
July 8, 2024
Slow starts but good characters and an interesting mystery plot!
March 17, 2025
The end was a bit… much
July 23, 2025
3.5 stars
November 30, 2022
A lot of the time this felt like Enid Blyton for grown ups - stolen necklace, spies and secret passages. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
August 14, 2021
Firstly my thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Oh, what a let-down. I had been so looking forward to reading this third book by Anne Glenconner, having really enjoyed Lady in Waiting and Murder on Mustque, both of which were excellent. Reading about Anne as a young girl, and then later when she was on the verge of being presented at Court, may suit a younger audience who enjoy the thrills of ghosts and a wicked governess. It’s a welll-rounded story, largely based on fact, but lacks maturity in the telling.
Oh, what a let-down. I had been so looking forward to reading this third book by Anne Glenconner, having really enjoyed Lady in Waiting and Murder on Mustque, both of which were excellent. Reading about Anne as a young girl, and then later when she was on the verge of being presented at Court, may suit a younger audience who enjoy the thrills of ghosts and a wicked governess. It’s a welll-rounded story, largely based on fact, but lacks maturity in the telling.
January 11, 2025
Predictable
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2022
I’ve never been one who has been thrilled at the idea of a ghost story. The last time I read one was during my a levels and our English lit teacher took us to see the play. I was less than thrilled when I discovered that it was an interactive play and the ghost liked to sit in the audience. Guess who has an empty seat right behind them! However over the last couple of years I have been really expanding what I read and so I was really looking forward to a good ghost story. This was especially true as the premise revealed that the story was based upon real accounts of the supernatural. Now I’m not saying I completely believe I ghosts but since having a couple of rather unexplainable events I have always had a mild interest.
So to say that I was a little disappointed with this book, in that respect, would be quite an understatement. I think the title is completely misleading because there was one, tiny section that was vaguely about a haunting which, by the end of the book, you discover was not anything to do with a ghost anyway.
What this book really was, was a murder mystery. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that it was less than thrilling, had an awful dark and sinister undertone and quite frankly infuriating!
Essentially this book was about a governess/ teacher that treated a child so horrendously that, as a teacher myself, at times both sickened me and infuriated me. Then to discover that there was some element of truth in this part of the story made my blood run cold. I understand that for the author perhaps there was a rather therapeutic element to writing this book and if this is the case then I’m glad but I think this should be made clear from the outset for the reader.
This was certainly not any kind of a thriller. It bumbled along, feather needlessly, until the last few pages at which point the story was rushed and how it was concluded was , for me, rather infuriating. The murderer, who didn’t just kill once, which included an old friend and a beloved grandfather, is shot dead and the Aristotle family basically brush the whole thing off as a rather unpleasant ordeal and get on with life. Now, I’m sorry, but that is an awful way to end a story. First of all it sums up what a lot of people loathe about the aristocracy. The family basically abuse their standing in society to quite literally get away with murder. Secondly there is absolutely no way I would shrug my shoulders, get in with life (which in this case was go clubbing and find a nice rich husband) and ultimately be rather thrilled that it all happened because the governess was murdered and the family jewels were returned which meant they could be worn on special occasions. Apparently this makes the murder of a grandfather perfectly acceptable and all rather worth it! Urgh!!!!
A rather appalling excuse for a book and as for the author, well, everything that is loathed about the aristocracy all bundled up! Quite simple an awful book and author that gives the aristocracy and awful and, I hope to god, an unfair and unjust representation.
So to say that I was a little disappointed with this book, in that respect, would be quite an understatement. I think the title is completely misleading because there was one, tiny section that was vaguely about a haunting which, by the end of the book, you discover was not anything to do with a ghost anyway.
What this book really was, was a murder mystery. This wouldn’t have been a problem if it wasn’t for the fact that it was less than thrilling, had an awful dark and sinister undertone and quite frankly infuriating!
Essentially this book was about a governess/ teacher that treated a child so horrendously that, as a teacher myself, at times both sickened me and infuriated me. Then to discover that there was some element of truth in this part of the story made my blood run cold. I understand that for the author perhaps there was a rather therapeutic element to writing this book and if this is the case then I’m glad but I think this should be made clear from the outset for the reader.
This was certainly not any kind of a thriller. It bumbled along, feather needlessly, until the last few pages at which point the story was rushed and how it was concluded was , for me, rather infuriating. The murderer, who didn’t just kill once, which included an old friend and a beloved grandfather, is shot dead and the Aristotle family basically brush the whole thing off as a rather unpleasant ordeal and get on with life. Now, I’m sorry, but that is an awful way to end a story. First of all it sums up what a lot of people loathe about the aristocracy. The family basically abuse their standing in society to quite literally get away with murder. Secondly there is absolutely no way I would shrug my shoulders, get in with life (which in this case was go clubbing and find a nice rich husband) and ultimately be rather thrilled that it all happened because the governess was murdered and the family jewels were returned which meant they could be worn on special occasions. Apparently this makes the murder of a grandfather perfectly acceptable and all rather worth it! Urgh!!!!
A rather appalling excuse for a book and as for the author, well, everything that is loathed about the aristocracy all bundled up! Quite simple an awful book and author that gives the aristocracy and awful and, I hope to god, an unfair and unjust representation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2023
Fascinating fictional account of Lady Anne’s memories of her family estate Holkham (one of the largest estates in Norfolk and bordering on
Sandringham, the English royal country home). The story takes place both during during World War II and seven years after the war.
It is hard to know where Lady Anne’s reminiscences leave off and where the fiction begins. If you have read her two books of autobiography you will recognize her grandfather and parents but she says in the afterword that the two pivotal characters in the book, her childhood friend from the village Johnnie, and the “democratic socialist” and painter Charles (who insists he is not a communist) are both imagined if somewhat composites of people she has known.
No matter, Lady Anne is a born story teller and skillfully weaves an imaginary theft and murder into her memories of the war years and her coming of age and debutant year.
I thoroughly enjoy her perspective on life, her sunny determination no matter what happens, and all the information about her family’s real treasures including a copy of a manuscript written by Leonardo da Vinci (which unfortunately had to be sold, first to Armand Hammer, who later sold it to Bill Gates).
The family diamonds, which are the subject of the theft in the book, are actually still in the family, along with countless other treasures, and valuable historic family portraits which the British Museum would love to get their hands on.
When you come from a family who have been English aristocrats for over 500 years you have a lot of family stories and history to tell. Lady Anne’s narrative style is totally charming while being informative about a way of life which is unfortunately mostly in the past.
Point of information: the haunting in the title is done by the ghost of Lady Mary, the wife of one of Anne’s ancestors, who is believed to haunt the manor house. But her real life governess was much more horrific than any ghost…
Although the author is now in her nineties her vibrancy leads me to hope she has another few books in her. When one finds such a wonderful storyteller with such interesting life tales to tell, one can only say, “more please.”
Sandringham, the English royal country home). The story takes place both during during World War II and seven years after the war.
It is hard to know where Lady Anne’s reminiscences leave off and where the fiction begins. If you have read her two books of autobiography you will recognize her grandfather and parents but she says in the afterword that the two pivotal characters in the book, her childhood friend from the village Johnnie, and the “democratic socialist” and painter Charles (who insists he is not a communist) are both imagined if somewhat composites of people she has known.
No matter, Lady Anne is a born story teller and skillfully weaves an imaginary theft and murder into her memories of the war years and her coming of age and debutant year.
I thoroughly enjoy her perspective on life, her sunny determination no matter what happens, and all the information about her family’s real treasures including a copy of a manuscript written by Leonardo da Vinci (which unfortunately had to be sold, first to Armand Hammer, who later sold it to Bill Gates).
The family diamonds, which are the subject of the theft in the book, are actually still in the family, along with countless other treasures, and valuable historic family portraits which the British Museum would love to get their hands on.
When you come from a family who have been English aristocrats for over 500 years you have a lot of family stories and history to tell. Lady Anne’s narrative style is totally charming while being informative about a way of life which is unfortunately mostly in the past.
Point of information: the haunting in the title is done by the ghost of Lady Mary, the wife of one of Anne’s ancestors, who is believed to haunt the manor house. But her real life governess was much more horrific than any ghost…
Although the author is now in her nineties her vibrancy leads me to hope she has another few books in her. When one finds such a wonderful storyteller with such interesting life tales to tell, one can only say, “more please.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 2, 2022
Lady Anne Coke is a remarkable young woman who, despite being the Earl of Leicester’s granddaughter, works as a travelling sales rep for the family pottery run by her mother and sister (all true!). When her grandfather dies suddenly, and in slightly mysterious circumstances, she must return home and help her family pick up the pieces. Being of a curious nature, and because her father won’t countenance the scandal that would arise by getting the police involved, Anne takes it upon herself to dig into the curious events surrounding the unexpected death.
This entire story is a fictionalised version of Lady Anne’s real life, drawing by turns on her youth in post war austerity, and her childhood during World War 2. Told in alternating sections of these two time periods, the somewhat shocking events of Anne’s childhood, when she was abused by a sadistic governess, unfold gradually as the memories she has long buried crawl back to the surface. At the climax of the story, she discovers that the key to the puzzle of her grandfather’s death is actually locked away inside her own head.
While a few totally fictional characters have been added, Lady Anne uses her family’s real names, and much of her own real experiences to bring authenticity to the fictional riddle. Details of how her class of family raised their children, and ran their estates, are all genuine, adding historical interest to a story that is a little slow to develop, and written in Lady Anne’s distinctive older, but none-the-less charming, style.
A truly unusual fusion of reality and fiction, this latest book by the former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret is an engrossing read which would appeal to lovers of Downton Abbey and the like.
This entire story is a fictionalised version of Lady Anne’s real life, drawing by turns on her youth in post war austerity, and her childhood during World War 2. Told in alternating sections of these two time periods, the somewhat shocking events of Anne’s childhood, when she was abused by a sadistic governess, unfold gradually as the memories she has long buried crawl back to the surface. At the climax of the story, she discovers that the key to the puzzle of her grandfather’s death is actually locked away inside her own head.
While a few totally fictional characters have been added, Lady Anne uses her family’s real names, and much of her own real experiences to bring authenticity to the fictional riddle. Details of how her class of family raised their children, and ran their estates, are all genuine, adding historical interest to a story that is a little slow to develop, and written in Lady Anne’s distinctive older, but none-the-less charming, style.
A truly unusual fusion of reality and fiction, this latest book by the former lady-in-waiting to Princess Margaret is an engrossing read which would appeal to lovers of Downton Abbey and the like.
January 18, 2023
Holkham hall is a wonderful place to visit if you are ever in North Norfolk. Nestled in landscape grounds and close to one of the best beaches in the UK. This place is always a goto when we visit the area. So, having a chance to read about it's history and within a ghost story, sounded like fun.
Set in two time periods, the story revolves around Lady Anne who is growing up in the hall and also an older version of her as she moves into society. Her grandfather dies and kicks of a mystery involving a fake necklace, stolen treasures and dodgy people. Throw in a sort of Scooby doo ending and you generally have the premise for this quick read.
The whole feel of the book is like a cut down episode of Downton Abbey and very rarely deviates from the drudgery of house life. The ghost element, a nod to a supposed haunting of the hall feels like some add on and even though the title of the book could make the reader think this is about ghosts....it isn't.
In fact, the whole mystery appears injected into the reminiscing of someone with fond memories about their old home. With the reveal at the end just cringeworthy, allowing for something so brutal to be essentially "Brushed under the carpet because we don't want the Royal family dragged into it".
A fun read but hardly anything gripping and I got the feeling Anne was essentially writing a fate for her school mistress which she probably wished upon her.
A cross between Downton Abbey and Scooby Doo....without the dog.
Set in two time periods, the story revolves around Lady Anne who is growing up in the hall and also an older version of her as she moves into society. Her grandfather dies and kicks of a mystery involving a fake necklace, stolen treasures and dodgy people. Throw in a sort of Scooby doo ending and you generally have the premise for this quick read.
The whole feel of the book is like a cut down episode of Downton Abbey and very rarely deviates from the drudgery of house life. The ghost element, a nod to a supposed haunting of the hall feels like some add on and even though the title of the book could make the reader think this is about ghosts....it isn't.
In fact, the whole mystery appears injected into the reminiscing of someone with fond memories about their old home. With the reveal at the end just cringeworthy, allowing for something so brutal to be essentially "Brushed under the carpet because we don't want the Royal family dragged into it".
A fun read but hardly anything gripping and I got the feeling Anne was essentially writing a fate for her school mistress which she probably wished upon her.
A cross between Downton Abbey and Scooby Doo....without the dog.
September 8, 2021
A Haunting at Holkham by Anne Glenconner is a great post WWII historical mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I loved that this historical fiction/mystery incorporates biographical information from the Author’s own childhood, and takes those inspired moments, people, and memories and creates a narrative with: creative characters, fascinating locations/buildings/events, and wraps it all up into an engaging and entertaining story.
Here we follow a younger Anne while she is at Holkham Hall as she attempts to sleuth her way into a resolution into her grandfather’s questionable death (at least in her mind). Anne is determined to get to the bottom of several mysteries despite the obstacles of the Hall’s other inhabitants, her age, and obvious obstacles.
I really liked the balance of fact and fiction and the Author’s note at the end helped give perspective on what was reality vs inspiration for the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed her memoir, Lady in Waiting, so I am pleased to say that I also think she has a real talent as an author of fiction as well.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Hodder & Stoughton for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
I loved that this historical fiction/mystery incorporates biographical information from the Author’s own childhood, and takes those inspired moments, people, and memories and creates a narrative with: creative characters, fascinating locations/buildings/events, and wraps it all up into an engaging and entertaining story.
Here we follow a younger Anne while she is at Holkham Hall as she attempts to sleuth her way into a resolution into her grandfather’s questionable death (at least in her mind). Anne is determined to get to the bottom of several mysteries despite the obstacles of the Hall’s other inhabitants, her age, and obvious obstacles.
I really liked the balance of fact and fiction and the Author’s note at the end helped give perspective on what was reality vs inspiration for the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed her memoir, Lady in Waiting, so I am pleased to say that I also think she has a real talent as an author of fiction as well.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and Hodder & Stoughton for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
January 2, 2022
A Haunting at Holkham is an entertaining read which should have been shortened and tightened at the editing stage to make it more to the point, especially towards the end of the narrative. The actual mystery (a valuable diamond necklace has disappeared) is a simple plot reminiscent of the Blyton books of my childhood. The reasons for reading this novel are perhaps more mundane as what is most interesting is the insiders view it gives you as to the life at Holkham during and just after WW2. Any glimpse onto the workings of a big aristocratic house, even if fictionalised, are interesting, and the writer appears as the protagonist of the story.
I love the house and its location, visited once but permanently fixed in my brain; the story reinforced my sense of the place and some of its recent history in an enjoyable, undemanding way. The issues discussed in the telling of the story (among others, cruelty towards children, lack of opportunities, immigration) are dealt with a light yet intelligent touch. I don't regret this Xmas gift from a friend who knew of my love of Holkham!
I love the house and its location, visited once but permanently fixed in my brain; the story reinforced my sense of the place and some of its recent history in an enjoyable, undemanding way. The issues discussed in the telling of the story (among others, cruelty towards children, lack of opportunities, immigration) are dealt with a light yet intelligent touch. I don't regret this Xmas gift from a friend who knew of my love of Holkham!
April 11, 2022
Last year I listened to the first book by this author Murder on Mustique and that was a smart confident mystery but I thought it was just ok.. maybe as it was based in the fabulous Mustique and there was not that cosy feel to it.. but this book being based in Holkham Hall in midwinter evokes the cosy quite easily!
The story is told in two parts Anne from 1950s finding out that her Grandfather has died, and Anne returning the Holkham Hall to stay with her Grandfather in WW2.
1950s Anne is suspicious of her grandfathers death and her instincts are piqued when she sees a note on his diary with her nanny’s name on sends her back to the child under the nanny’s care which was cruel and abusive, so Anne decides to investigate.
It’s the fictional story (I hope) of the author childhood home and experiences mixed in with a mystery story.
It’s a really good mystery novel and I really enjoyed the twist at the end.. it was very satisfying.
#mystery #historical #England #murder #beatthebacklog
The story is told in two parts Anne from 1950s finding out that her Grandfather has died, and Anne returning the Holkham Hall to stay with her Grandfather in WW2.
1950s Anne is suspicious of her grandfathers death and her instincts are piqued when she sees a note on his diary with her nanny’s name on sends her back to the child under the nanny’s care which was cruel and abusive, so Anne decides to investigate.
It’s the fictional story (I hope) of the author childhood home and experiences mixed in with a mystery story.
It’s a really good mystery novel and I really enjoyed the twist at the end.. it was very satisfying.
#mystery #historical #England #murder #beatthebacklog
April 26, 2022
Location: Holkham, UK
Conclusion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this book and I haven’t seen it much on Bookstagram, so I decided to feature it. It is a great read and if you like historical fiction set in the WW II / post-war era this is one for you. In my opinion the twist is not easy to guess (I didn‘t figure it out) and so the suspense stays until the very end of the book. I can recommend this book to you out there!
Characters:
- Anne: She is the granddaughter of the Earl of Leicester and an intelligent and friendly character. I liked her instantly and enjoyed being led through the book by her.
- Charles: He is not a fan of the aristocracy but becomes friends and fellow hobby-detectives with Anne. I think he was a great addition to the cast.
What I liked: the book in general. It jumps between 1943 and 1950 so one had to pay attention in which year the chapter is happening but that made the plot less linear and the suspense was kept up nicely.
What I disliked: the beginning of the book was a bit slow in my opinion, but that is a minor dislike as the rest of it was very good.
Conclusion: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this book and I haven’t seen it much on Bookstagram, so I decided to feature it. It is a great read and if you like historical fiction set in the WW II / post-war era this is one for you. In my opinion the twist is not easy to guess (I didn‘t figure it out) and so the suspense stays until the very end of the book. I can recommend this book to you out there!
Characters:
- Anne: She is the granddaughter of the Earl of Leicester and an intelligent and friendly character. I liked her instantly and enjoyed being led through the book by her.
- Charles: He is not a fan of the aristocracy but becomes friends and fellow hobby-detectives with Anne. I think he was a great addition to the cast.
What I liked: the book in general. It jumps between 1943 and 1950 so one had to pay attention in which year the chapter is happening but that made the plot less linear and the suspense was kept up nicely.
What I disliked: the beginning of the book was a bit slow in my opinion, but that is a minor dislike as the rest of it was very good.
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