What do you think?
Rate this book
Eliza Montagu #3
Thistlewood Manor: Calamity at the Ball
THISTLEWOOD CALAMITY AT THE BALL is Book #3 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.
Christmas has arrived in resplendent Thistlewood Manor, opulent, magical and filled with guests. The countryside is alight with local gentry balls, and Eliza’s younger sister, turning 16, is determined to visit them all—and to drag Eliza with her.
But when a shocking incident occurs and Eliza discovers her sister’s suitor thrown from a balcony, suspicion for the murder falls on her. Eliza is forced to plunge into the dark side of nobility, to pry at the secrets behind the parties and balls, and determine who would want this man dead—and why.
Yet even Eliza cannot anticipate the shocking truth she will discover.
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.
Christmas has arrived in resplendent Thistlewood Manor, opulent, magical and filled with guests. The countryside is alight with local gentry balls, and Eliza’s younger sister, turning 16, is determined to visit them all—and to drag Eliza with her.
But when a shocking incident occurs and Eliza discovers her sister’s suitor thrown from a balcony, suspicion for the murder falls on her. Eliza is forced to plunge into the dark side of nobility, to pry at the secrets behind the parties and balls, and determine who would want this man dead—and why.
Yet even Eliza cannot anticipate the shocking truth she will discover.
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.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2023
33 people are currently reading
77 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 19, 2023
I keep reading this series because it’s light but it’s not particularly good. I do like Eliza so I guess that’s what keeps me going.
April 5, 2023
The first book was interesting but by the third book, to echo one of the reviews, I got quite annoyed with the main character. She seem to spend a lot of time catching the wrong culprit. As murder mystery goes there wasn’t much detecting and mostly just her assumptions on everything without thinking things through. It would have been fine if there was humor that goes along with all her bungled investigations but there wasn’t even that. And the Inspector is equally as useless, didn’t seem to want to work with her and although he seemed to be suspicious of her he still took her advice?
I doubt I’ll continue with the series.
I doubt I’ll continue with the series.
March 4, 2023
A nice follow on
I am enjoying this new series.
Fiona Grace is doing a wonderful job writing short, captivating detecting challenges for the reader.
I am enjoying this new series.
Fiona Grace is doing a wonderful job writing short, captivating detecting challenges for the reader.
March 26, 2024
Danger hovers over Eliza when she branches out into the wider world of business. Will she be quick enough to protect herself and find the perpetrator? A good read/listen.
January 20, 2024
Thistlewood Manor: Calamity at the Ball is a lovely and cozy read, but not necessarily up to par with the previous two in the series. That being said, this hasn’t deterred me from book number four and I’m still just as eager to continue reading this heartwarming series.
Just as much as I love the dark, the dreary, and the horrific in my reads, I adore my cozies just as much. A well-written cozy mystery is the perfect escape so I can keep reading between my horrors and thrillers, and the Eliza Montagu series has been my go-to. Fiona Grace writes well-thought out storylines that are simple, but not necessarily predictable. Quick-witted humor, a touch of feminism, and the easy to follow mystery (but not without its twists, turns, and reveals) are just a few of the reasons this series works so well. Her characters are easy to remember and much easier to fall-in-love with. Each book dives into the relationships Eliza has with a different set of characters. Getting to know Eliza’s sister, Mercy, with Molly tagging along too, has been such a joy.
In Calamity at the Ball, the characters are just as memorable, but I found myself missing some of the charm that I so enjoyed from the first two books. Murder at the Hedgegrove was such a strong start to the series and A Dollop of Death, I felt, was even stronger, so to feel that we’ve gone backwards from the first book is disappointing. Where the first two books seem to heavily follow the central storyline of the murder mystery with subplots branching from it, the mystery in this book feels more like a subplot while Eliza’s internal monologues and emotions seem to take the forefront. Given we’re in book three and Eliza and her supporting characters are well-established, it does make sense to delve deeper into Eliza’s wants and desires. After putting Eliza at the forefront, it feels the balance has gone off-kilter and I found the mystery aspect of this cozy mystery to be lacking—because of this, I feel we've lost some of the good-humor as well.
I've read the Thistlewood Manor series as an audiobook and I strongly recommend. Narrator, Jo Ashe, is just as cozy to listen to as the writing. She breathes such a warm, light-hearted into Grace's characters.
Cozy mystery lovers, I would definitely recommend this series. Calamity at the ball is still a lovely read despite the slight decline from the first two books. On to number four, A Speakeasy Demise.
3.5/5
Would I Recommend: Yes
Would I Read Other Works by the Author (Sequels or otherwise): Yes
Would I Reread: Maybe, but only if I’m rereading the series in full
Just as much as I love the dark, the dreary, and the horrific in my reads, I adore my cozies just as much. A well-written cozy mystery is the perfect escape so I can keep reading between my horrors and thrillers, and the Eliza Montagu series has been my go-to. Fiona Grace writes well-thought out storylines that are simple, but not necessarily predictable. Quick-witted humor, a touch of feminism, and the easy to follow mystery (but not without its twists, turns, and reveals) are just a few of the reasons this series works so well. Her characters are easy to remember and much easier to fall-in-love with. Each book dives into the relationships Eliza has with a different set of characters. Getting to know Eliza’s sister, Mercy, with Molly tagging along too, has been such a joy.
In Calamity at the Ball, the characters are just as memorable, but I found myself missing some of the charm that I so enjoyed from the first two books. Murder at the Hedgegrove was such a strong start to the series and A Dollop of Death, I felt, was even stronger, so to feel that we’ve gone backwards from the first book is disappointing. Where the first two books seem to heavily follow the central storyline of the murder mystery with subplots branching from it, the mystery in this book feels more like a subplot while Eliza’s internal monologues and emotions seem to take the forefront. Given we’re in book three and Eliza and her supporting characters are well-established, it does make sense to delve deeper into Eliza’s wants and desires. After putting Eliza at the forefront, it feels the balance has gone off-kilter and I found the mystery aspect of this cozy mystery to be lacking—because of this, I feel we've lost some of the good-humor as well.
I've read the Thistlewood Manor series as an audiobook and I strongly recommend. Narrator, Jo Ashe, is just as cozy to listen to as the writing. She breathes such a warm, light-hearted into Grace's characters.
Cozy mystery lovers, I would definitely recommend this series. Calamity at the ball is still a lovely read despite the slight decline from the first two books. On to number four, A Speakeasy Demise.
3.5/5
Would I Recommend: Yes
Would I Read Other Works by the Author (Sequels or otherwise): Yes
Would I Reread: Maybe, but only if I’m rereading the series in full
August 29, 2024
Our hero continues to bumble her way through an investigation, wrongfully accusing suspects until she gets it right. At least in this installment, she did not openly lie to the police.
Unlike other 1920s English mysteries I've enjoyed, Fiona Grace seems not particularly concerned with getting the history right. There were more than one times when the author includes a decidedly modern turn of phrase, such as speaking of the Lord's "privilege." I also highly doubt that an unwed maid would ever show herself at a society ball, at 7-months pregnant--even if she IS the mother of the future heir of Thistlewood Manor.
Listened to audiobook using Hoopla. The narrator is slightly better than a granny reading a bedside novel.
Unlike other 1920s English mysteries I've enjoyed, Fiona Grace seems not particularly concerned with getting the history right. There were more than one times when the author includes a decidedly modern turn of phrase, such as speaking of the Lord's "privilege." I also highly doubt that an unwed maid would ever show herself at a society ball, at 7-months pregnant--even if she IS the mother of the future heir of Thistlewood Manor.
Listened to audiobook using Hoopla. The narrator is slightly better than a granny reading a bedside novel.
August 26, 2023
Good mystery in a different setting
This 3rd book is as good as the first two. Although I very much dislike when people in books think things, but refuse to share them with others, such as when she has an idea but refuses to share it with the Detective, Mercy, Molly or Oliver, I understand that is how you make suspense or a sequel. It is just extremely frustrating for the reader.
I do like this series, even though it is a bit needlessly wordy and repetitive.
I like the continuation of the storyline and look forward to seeing where things go.
This 3rd book is as good as the first two. Although I very much dislike when people in books think things, but refuse to share them with others, such as when she has an idea but refuses to share it with the Detective, Mercy, Molly or Oliver, I understand that is how you make suspense or a sequel. It is just extremely frustrating for the reader.
I do like this series, even though it is a bit needlessly wordy and repetitive.
I like the continuation of the storyline and look forward to seeing where things go.
May 25, 2024
The ball was a nightmare. Eliza accompanied her sister to provide support on this all important evening of her first ball. They both became suspects in a murder after Mercy was attacked by an unscrupulous man who was later killed.
The affair takes hours to unravel and the reader is exhausted as Eliza tracks down one after another false lead. Of course she solved the case after falsely accusing several guests including the host of the party. Really hard to swallow!
The affair takes hours to unravel and the reader is exhausted as Eliza tracks down one after another false lead. Of course she solved the case after falsely accusing several guests including the host of the party. Really hard to swallow!
March 7, 2023
A cad meets his fate
Mercy requests that Eliza accompany her to a ball, even though it was exactly where Eliza did not wish to be. But Eliza wanted to look after her younger sister which was why she went and why she accosted the man who treated her sister poorly. And that confrontation was somewhat public which is why Eliza was a suspect when he was found dead. Eliza is once again forced into becoming a detective, this time to save herself. Another good period mystery in a series about a strong-willed young lady trying to do the best for her family.
Mercy requests that Eliza accompany her to a ball, even though it was exactly where Eliza did not wish to be. But Eliza wanted to look after her younger sister which was why she went and why she accosted the man who treated her sister poorly. And that confrontation was somewhat public which is why Eliza was a suspect when he was found dead. Eliza is once again forced into becoming a detective, this time to save herself. Another good period mystery in a series about a strong-willed young lady trying to do the best for her family.
March 7, 2023
Brilliant!
Thistlewood Manor books flow very nicely. So far, I think this one is my favorite. I look forward to reading about Eliza’s adventures in the rest of this series. Now, onto book 4.
Thistlewood Manor books flow very nicely. So far, I think this one is my favorite. I look forward to reading about Eliza’s adventures in the rest of this series. Now, onto book 4.
March 22, 2024
I am so happy I discovered this author,she keeps the story moving,her characters are so insteresting and I love the way it moves along,,really like this series,,,
May 2, 2024
The more of this series I read, the more they feel forced. Eliza comes across as stupid and the Inspector as incompetent. The murder is someone you don't meet until the end of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
Enjoyable characters.
Sickly father, pregnant maid and two brothers
Love interest in Oliver
Sickly father, pregnant maid and two brothers
Love interest in Oliver
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2025
Quick easy read
Read
January 13, 2025This is a very sweet series, but Eliza has GOT to stop accusing the wrong person (or two).
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews