The Secrets of Thorndale Manor
(The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire #2)
By Syrie James
Historical Romantic Suspense, Cozy Mystery
Paperback & eBook, 364 Pages
June 28, 2025 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.
Summary
She risks everything for the truth.
He guards secrets that could tear them apart.
When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at the grand and storied Thorndale Manor, she hopes for a new beginning. But the estate’s dark past quickly resurfaces when a maid is found dead under suspicious circumstances—and whispers stir of a murder committed nine years earlier, a crime for which Ian Vernon’s sister was convicted.
Athena believes the two cases are connected. Ian Vernon, Thorndale’s brooding former heir, insists she’s wrong—and warns her to leave the past buried. But Athena is as fearless as she is determined, and her investigation brings her into close quarters with the man who should be her adversary… yet soon proves to be something much more.
As secrets unravel and a killer grows desperate, Athena finds herself in terrifying danger, caught between the pursuit of justice and a powerful attraction that threatens to derail everything.
Tropes you’ll love:
✔ Victorian gothic mystery
✔ Woman sleuth / heroine with a mission
✔ Brooding former heir
✔ Enemies to lovers
✔ Forbidden attraction
✔ Murder and family secrets
✔ Slow-burn historical romance
A richly atmospheric mystery layered with romance, betrayal, and the dark undercurrents of a house built on secrets.
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My Review
THE SECRETS OF THORNDALE MANOR is a romantic mystery about a young woman who was hanged for murder and a more recent death of a maid. The heroine has a strong sense that things aren't as they've been laid out and seeks to find the truth, even when doing so puts herself and those around her in danger. The story includes themes of sisterhood, second chances, betrayal, friendship, and love. Likable characters with a slowly building romance, a country school of girls, and a lightly suspenseful plot that climaxes in the end make for an entertaining read.
I loved jumping back into this series and getting to know the previous book's heroine's two sisters! Please note that you do not need to have read the previous book to enjoy this one. I loved the setting being a girls' school with two sisters running it. They were a delight! I liked how they had their own personalities, strengths, fears, and supported each other. Athena does get a bit carried away and dramatic in her pursuit of the truth in places, but she's a character who came across as organic and relatable. I also thought the small town setting with the different classes and prejudices were accurately portrayed and also easily immersed me in this world. My favorite part was the romance. It felt organic as it grew, floundered, and blossomed. There were some deliciously swoon-worthy moments as well. I also appreciated that it didn't overtake the story. The mystery still took center stage and grew more suspenseful as the villain got ever more desperate. My heart definitely had some scary moments.
In the end, was it what I wished for? This was a cozy historical mystery with delightful characters and a sweet romance. I'm looking forward to reading the next sister's story!
Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy through Austenprose PR, which did not require a positive review. All opinions are my own.
You can find my review of the first book in this series, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall, here. Are you a fan of historical romantic cozy mysteries? Have you read any of this author's other books or other books in this genre that you'd recommend?
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