Ashton Hall – Great Historical Mystery!

Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This wasn’t entirely what I expected, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and find myself still thinking about it at times. There were quite a few things I could relate to and understand from the main character’s perspective, making it a much more intriguing and good story for me.
In this story, the mother, Hannah, and her son, Nicky, who’s on the spectrum and having issues, end up visiting a family friend in England, who’s in poor declining health. Hannah has recently found out about her husband having an affair that is still ongoing and hasn’t stopped yet. She decides to finish her dissertation that she set aside years ago because of her son, Nicky, and having to do more with him and his special needs. They’re staying in an old gothic-type manor called Ashton Hall and within the first few days, while Nicky is exploring, he finds the skeleton, which leads to the investigation of what happened to them and who they were, and how long ago they died. This introduces the handsome Matthew, to who she has an attraction and also has a daughter with special needs similar to her son, Nicky. This goes deep into the history of the manor and everything, which is fascinating to read. It also goes into Hannah realizing more about herself, who she was, who she is and wants to become, and about finding herself and realizing what she wants to do with her life. I love how Hannah has her defining and deciding moments in what to do with her husband who’s cheating and what she wants for herself in life and her future.
This was a very thought-provoking and enlightening read. I would highly recommend it to those who enjoy gothic stories, mysteries, historical fiction, and the like. Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine Books and NetGalley for letting me read and review this enjoyable read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.



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