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Eliza Montagu #2
Thistlewood Manor: A Dollop of Death
THISTLEWOOD A DOLLOP OF DEATH (AN ELIZA MONTAGU COZY MYSTERY—BOOK 2) is Book #2 in a charming 1920s cozy mystery series by Fiona Grace, #1 bestselling author of Murder in the Manor , which has over 300 five star reviews!
For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London.
Yet after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition.
Fall has arrived, bringing to town major Fall festivals and celebrations in the gorgeous countryside—and yet also bringing to town a female suitor who wastes no time trying to woo Oliver away. Seeing Eliza as her rival, the suitor does everything she can to malign her and make her life miserable.
And when a servant turns up dead, poisoned by a slice of pie meant for Eliza, all eyes fall on the suitor. Did she mean to murder Eliza? Was the pie meant for someone else in the family? Or for the suitor herself?
Eliza, realizing she is implicated, is forced to solve the perplexing murder—and ends up utterly stunned at what she discovers.
A charming historical cozy mystery series that transports readers back in time, THISTLEWOOD MANOR is mystery at its spellbinding, atmospheric and impossible to put down. A page-turner packed with shocking twists, turns and a mystery that’s hard to solve, it will leave you reading late into the night, all while you fall in love with its unforgettable heroine.
For centuries, Thistlewood Manor has stood as home to the Montagu family, a beacon to British aristocracy in rural England. But it’s 1928, and in this new age of women’s rights, Eliza Montagu, 27, a free spirit, has turned her back on her family to live an artist’s life in London.
Yet after Eliza is summoned home, she decides to stay (for now) to help her father run the ailing family business. The presence of her childhood best friend, Oliver, also gives her a reason to stay, as she wonders if their unfulfilled romance might ever come to fruition.
Fall has arrived, bringing to town major Fall festivals and celebrations in the gorgeous countryside—and yet also bringing to town a female suitor who wastes no time trying to woo Oliver away. Seeing Eliza as her rival, the suitor does everything she can to malign her and make her life miserable.
And when a servant turns up dead, poisoned by a slice of pie meant for Eliza, all eyes fall on the suitor. Did she mean to murder Eliza? Was the pie meant for someone else in the family? Or for the suitor herself?
Eliza, realizing she is implicated, is forced to solve the perplexing murder—and ends up utterly stunned at what she discovers.
A charming historical cozy mystery series that transports readers back in time, THISTLEWOOD MANOR is mystery at its spellbinding, atmospheric and impossible to put down. A page-turner packed with shocking twists, turns and a mystery that’s hard to solve, it will leave you reading late into the night, all while you fall in love with its unforgettable heroine.
154 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 29, 2022
188 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Grace
477 books717 followersDebut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 1, 2024
Eliza came back home to help father but then when she try to put in her 2 cents he won't even back her up with her own brother? I don't know I kinda lost interest in the book right there.
then bring in Olly, is he interested in her or not? Can't have Eliza doing the one side thing and Olly concurring all the ladies and even maids.
with my jumping around this book, I read at the end where Eliza thinking maybe Gwendoline is correct that Eliza has feelings for Olly....I am like WTF??? wasn't that already established at the beginning of the book?
Maybe this series aren't for me after all. I am just not feeling it for this 2nd book after all.
then bring in Olly, is he interested in her or not? Can't have Eliza doing the one side thing and Olly concurring all the ladies and even maids.
with my jumping around this book, I read at the end where Eliza thinking maybe Gwendoline is correct that Eliza has feelings for Olly....I am like WTF??? wasn't that already established at the beginning of the book?
Maybe this series aren't for me after all. I am just not feeling it for this 2nd book after all.
March 24, 2024
The double mystery (who was the intended victim and who was the killer) is interesting. The characters are a little more developed in book 2 than in book 1.
The writing style is tedious in places, especially the repetitive internal dialog. The protagonist creates cognitive dissonance; she written as a privileged young woman who claims to want fewer class distinctions, but still enjoys the benefits of wealth. I'm not a fan of the protagonist's accusing suspects without sufficient proof. In some ways, she isn't any better as a dectective than the constabulary who, of course, always arrest the wrong person.
I listened to an audiobook, and the narrator did a good job with the characters.
The writing style is tedious in places, especially the repetitive internal dialog. The protagonist creates cognitive dissonance; she written as a privileged young woman who claims to want fewer class distinctions, but still enjoys the benefits of wealth. I'm not a fan of the protagonist's accusing suspects without sufficient proof. In some ways, she isn't any better as a dectective than the constabulary who, of course, always arrest the wrong person.
I listened to an audiobook, and the narrator did a good job with the characters.
January 24, 2023
Finding the murderer isn’t the only mystery.
Eliza Montagu is a strong woman, a feminist who is less attached to the rules of wealth and monarchy than her family. When her family’s business and home is at risk, Eliza believes she must save them. When a murder happens in their home, Eliza believes she must find the murderer. But there’s a twist—she must find the intended victim, too, as the servant who died was clearly not meant to be the recipient of the poisoned pie. Eliza comes closer to being recognized for the force she is within the family. A good read!
Eliza Montagu is a strong woman, a feminist who is less attached to the rules of wealth and monarchy than her family. When her family’s business and home is at risk, Eliza believes she must save them. When a murder happens in their home, Eliza believes she must find the murderer. But there’s a twist—she must find the intended victim, too, as the servant who died was clearly not meant to be the recipient of the poisoned pie. Eliza comes closer to being recognized for the force she is within the family. A good read!
February 5, 2023
I was thoroughly annoyed with the main character in the first book but read the second to see if she became less annoying. Eliza does seem to have grown from an idealistic, brash, bumbling hypocrite into an idealistic, but more practical, brash, bumbling, and well meaning “modern” woman. She still bulls her way through a murder investigation and asserts with great conviction the wrong solution. However, she seems to have become more earnest in her efforts to bring her family and the world into a less misogynistic and less class conscious era.
April 23, 2023
This series is excellent if you are trying to get back into reading as a hobby. After reading the first book of the series, the second was definitely on my tbr list. This series has some odd pacing because the books are so short, so if you like the murder happening within the first ten chapters, you won't find that here. The side plot romance between Oliver and Eliza is slow but doesn't distract much from the main plot, which I appreciate. Overall, it is a good book, but the pacing could be better.
July 26, 2023
Murder mystery at the Manor
Eliza takes her place at a meeting in the boardroom of her family home much to the consternation of the visitors who believe that women should stay out of business meetings but Eliza is determined as she can't trust her brothers not to do something stupid. There is a party in the manor and many food courses. Eliza went to the kitchen and found one of the staff lying on the floor having eaten a poisoned scone. Time to investigate!!
Eliza takes her place at a meeting in the boardroom of her family home much to the consternation of the visitors who believe that women should stay out of business meetings but Eliza is determined as she can't trust her brothers not to do something stupid. There is a party in the manor and many food courses. Eliza went to the kitchen and found one of the staff lying on the floor having eaten a poisoned scone. Time to investigate!!
July 18, 2024
I’m finally getting to the center of this story with all the familial interactions. The story is even more interesting now that it is more than who killed who. The personalities of each family member is coming out, and the father is starting to assert himself as head of the family. And he’s starting to realize that Eliza is a capable member of the family. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.
November 30, 2022
The second in the series.
I was so impressed with the first book that I preordered this one, something I never do. The characters and the plot are well drawn. You can feel a part of the family and Eliza’s struggles to be taken seriously because she is a woman. The murderer was a bit of a stretch though.
I was so impressed with the first book that I preordered this one, something I never do. The characters and the plot are well drawn. You can feel a part of the family and Eliza’s struggles to be taken seriously because she is a woman. The murderer was a bit of a stretch though.
February 5, 2023
another enjoyable Eliza mystery
I love Eliza Montagu and the rest of the characters. Each one has such distinct personality and I love how the author blends them all into the family. Eliza’s champion of women’s rights is inspiring and her strong intellect is fantastic to see. A fun mystery that I read in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down.
I love Eliza Montagu and the rest of the characters. Each one has such distinct personality and I love how the author blends them all into the family. Eliza’s champion of women’s rights is inspiring and her strong intellect is fantastic to see. A fun mystery that I read in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down.
January 29, 2023
I rated book 1 three stars as I felt it lacked in character development. These books are relatively short and I believe that is the cause. By the time I finished book 2, I felt I knew the characters better and will continue with the series.
October 27, 2023
Like the first book in this series: entertaining, funny and deadly.
And I'm learning some very fancy British words. Like unctuousness, stodgy and chuffed, to name a few.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a copy and choose to review it.
And I'm learning some very fancy British words. Like unctuousness, stodgy and chuffed, to name a few.
I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I received a copy and choose to review it.
December 6, 2023
This was better than the first one. Eliza somewhat reminds me of a young Phryne Fisher. I didn't quite like her in book 1, but she's growing on me. I'm intrigued, so I'll stick with the series for now.
December 5, 2022
Well written.
Loved the characters . I usually can't put into words or how to put down what I think about a story so I mark down five stars!
Loved the characters . I usually can't put into words or how to put down what I think about a story so I mark down five stars!
December 10, 2022
I enjoy all of Fiona Grace's books...
March 3, 2023
Delightful!
This is a wonderful series. It’s full of humor, adventure, romance and mystery. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
This is a wonderful series. It’s full of humor, adventure, romance and mystery. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.
April 30, 2023
Another light entry in the series.
March 12, 2024
Although a bit formulaic I liked this 2nd book better than the first and the characters are growing on me! A great cozy read
January 3, 2025
Quick easy read
Read
January 11, 2025The killer came out of left field in this one, but it's still a cute cozy.
April 11, 2025
Too many glaring gaps and wild jumps in the plot. There isn't anyone in this novel I could really like, except maybe Molly and Renee.
March 19, 2024
Love this series,well written,fast paced,holds your interest and always a surprise ending,,,,
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews