Midnight on the River Grey

English moors beset by swirling mists and winds; wicked storms, dreary weather, and centuries-old decrepit buildings slowly decaying; combine to make a great Gothic tale, but not a place I would care to visit. Abigail Wilson, in Midnight on the River Grey, carefully employs dark words, effectively painting a very dreary, spooky mood in Regency England.
What is the allure of a musty setting like this? It “must” be the reader’s desire to see if the unfortunate characters can find hope or color in their lives, against all the odds of the Dickens-like environment. Rebecca has an overriding fear that she must face head-on. Lewis Browning has a horrible reputation that causes townspeople to ostracize him completely. Under the darkness of show more this tale is a thin ray of light struggling to find greater purchase and freedom. As a reader, I raced through the pages hoping to free Rebecca from her invisible prison. Would she determine the cause of the turmoil in her new surroundings, or would she become the next victim?
Who will not like Rebecca? She can’t seem to stay safe, but she is determined to prove her loved one innocent and make the guilty pay. Rebecca has spunk, inquisitiveness, and clear thinking in spades, although some might like her to think otherwise.
I loved the slow unwrapping of the romance as if one were unwrapping a present covered in layers of newsprint. Lewis was kind enough to sympathize with Rebecca’s feelings. That goes a long ways towards winning her respect, as opposed to just defending her father. Lewis also proves himself to be thoughtful and generous in undeniable ways. By this point, I didn’t care if Lewis was good-looking or not. Actions transform the face and person.
I wondered if maybe Rebecca had unfairly judged both her father and Lewis. My Bible reading just yesterday cautioned against judging. It seems we point fingers back at ourselves when we refuse to extend grace to others.
Aunt Jo is very likable and seems to have a quiet caution and wisdom. She is an excellent foil for Rebecca.
A quote. (I will post longer ones as memes.)
“Sometimes people do awful things when they feel justified.”
I recommend this book, with a few caveats. While it is clean, there are, however, a few situations that would make it for mature readers. There was no mention of faith, which is disappointing when the book comes from a Christian publisher.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. No positive review was required and all opinions are my own. show less

Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson is a regency novel set in an early English countryside estate. Rebecca Hunter wants to find out how her brother was murdered but the only problem is, her new guardian is the suspect. I loved the adventurous nature of Rebecca. How even though she was frightened she didn’t let her fear stop her from seeking answers to her questions. She wasn’t afraid to admit when she was wrong. I really enjoyed the story-line. It kept my interest all the way to the surprising end. I love plot twists!

I received this book from Celebrate-Lit in exchange for my honest review.

“Two murders. One bridge. And the truth as elusive as the fog.”

Such is the crux of the adventure and intrigue of Abigail Wilson’s “Midnight on the River Grey”. Not only is the cover gorgeous, but it also perfectly reflects the sinister ambiance that characterizes the novel. Atmospheric and foreboding, this book ushers in a sense of unease that lingers throughout the story. The setting further highlights this, with stunning descriptions that seem to make Greybourne Hall rise up out of the fog, right before readers’ eyes. With contemporaneous language, Wilson brings Regency England to life, infusing the narrative with gothic elements that serve to enhance the suspense.

From the secluded estate to the prototypical characters, show more “Midnight on the River Grey” has a decidedly cinematic quality to it. All is not as it seems at first blush, and there is no certainty in determining who is trustworthy. Murders, madness, conspiracy, and romance coalesce into this gently ominous novel, with a building crescendo that reverberates through the denouement. The characters are foils for each other, in both humorous and ominous ways. Rebecca Hunter relates the story from her first-person viewpoint as she works toward discovering the true story behind her brother’s death. Headstrong and impulsive, Rebecca is a daring figure, particularly during a time period when women were expected to be simpering and submissive. Lewis Browning is something of an enigma, his role as protector or villain hazy. Including the King Charles spaniel, Sophie, adds some lightheartedness while also furthering the mystery.

“Midnight on the River Grey” contains all of the essential qualities of an eerie mystery and is a clean read, albeit with only a few passing mentions of Christianity (my only complaint). I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys light suspense, Regency-era fiction, and historical romance.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. show less

Dangerous persistence!

A young woman who has fears of descending into madness like her mother, a dead older brother, a mysterious guardian, a supportive aunt and a rather cute small dog all figure in this Regency mystery.
Things come together when Rebecca Hunter is forced to leave London to stay with her now guardian Mr. Lewis Browning at the large and inhospitable Greybourne Hall.
It appears that in this supposedly safe place, death doesn't stop with Rebecca's brother, Jacob. Just after her arrival, a friend of Lewis' is found dead under the bridge nearly in the same spot as Jacob was discovered. Couple that with, rumors about Lewis' clandestine moonlight rides are doing the rounds of the village. (Rebecca has witnessed evidence of show more these). The talk is so strong that the locals call Lewis the Midnight Devil.
Then there's the widow of Lewis brother, Isabell, her rakish brother Adam who leave in the Dowager residence and the neighbor Mr. Galpin. All seem to wander into the hall without a by your leave, but it's Mr. Galpin in particular who sets Rebecca's teeth on edge.
Rebecca is determined not to be forced into any marriage and to find the real cause or perpetrator of her brother's death. Lewis is her main culprit as he has accepted responsibility for having, in the darkness of the night, knocked Jacob off the bridge when his horse collided with him. However it is all somewhat hazy, especially as Lewis can barely recall any of what happened.
As Rebecca's questions increase Lewis has a running joke about her being a badger in her pursuit of various answers. And as Rebecca says, “Well, what else do badgers do, but dig?”
A most unexpected and enjoyable read, with a storyline that had me guessing up until the near end.

A Thomas Nelson ARC via NetGalley show less

I enjoyed the time period set during the 1800s in London. I could already feel a chill come over me as I started the book. The author grabbed my attention right away with the way she makes the story eerie and mysterious with words that send chills down your spine. It sure wasn't fun to be kicked out of your home and find out your new guardian was a distant cousin. Rebecca and her aunt are not thrilled but maybe Rebecca can gather information into her brothers' mysterious death.

Lewis was a strange character to me. I wasn't sure if he could be trusted and it made for a wonderful treat to find out more about him. The estate they were staying at sounded spooky and yes I would be the first to go explore the place. The land seemed to always show more be surrounded by fog with a heaviness that almost chocked you. How safe is she and her aunt at this new dwelling?

Regency novels can be quite intriguing if written with words that take you back in time. The author does this with such brilliance that I started to really get into the story. Oh my the secrets, dishonesty, plotting and unsavory characters were there in the midst of the story. What I liked is that the author doesn't make things obvious, rather she has readers dig deep into the story and find clues that startle them. Not everyone is who they say they are. Rebecca is getting close to finding out something about her brother that could have a lasting affect on many people.

People in the area don't think highly of Lewis and in fact believe him to be a murderer and a danger to everyone. Rebecca will need to distinguish the truth from lies in order to trust the right person. I loved how the suspense builds and how Lewis and Rebecca start to grow close. Now my question for Rebecca is, Are you keeping your friends close and your enemies closer? Get ready for a fast paced story that will leave you with unexpected outcomes and a book that has been crafted by an author that can write a story with layers that need to be peeled away to find the truth one step at a time.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. show less

‘There are some ghosts you might not want to summon back to life.’

The author has once again done a fabulous job of drawing the reader into the web of intrigue. Between nightmares, insanity, murder and suspicious occurrences you will find this Regency era story impossible to put down! I loved all the details about the Gothic style castle that added so many incredible ideas of what mystery surrounded it. The dark halls with nothing but candlelight, the creaking and shadows made me grateful I was reading in the daylight. The walks among the greenery just made me wonder if good or evil was around the corner.

Young Rebecca is banished first to Scotland and just when she thinks things are getting better she must leave London for show more Greybourne Hall, close to where her brother died. Will she be able to discover what really happened that dark night? Perhaps these are some of the ghosts she doesn't want resurrected! I must admit, I was very caught up trying to figure out who could be trusted.

I received an ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. These impressions and opinions are my own. show less

Rebecca Hunter and her brother Jacob became wards of Mr. Lewis Browning upon their father’s death. For me, the time between the death of their father and the start of this book is ambiguous and I’m left with questions. For instance – was Browning just an unconcerned, uninvolved guardian? I wonder because Rebecca was living with an aunt in their old townhome, which seems a good choice, but – it seems her brother was running wild. While I wondered about that first period, things went well once the actual story starts.

Jacob got himself ‘into a spot of bother’ and left London to live at their guardian’s estate, Greybourne Hall. When, after several months, Jacob dies, rumors of murder abound among the villagers. Who do they show more blame? Lewis Browning was on the bridge that night, and his memory of the events is foggy. As the closest male relative, Lewis inherits all the entailed properties and quickly summons Rebecca from London to Greybourne Hall saying he’s selling their townhouse. Unhappily, Rebecca and her aunt arrive at the Hall – with Rebecca determined to discover Lewis’s guilt and see him brought to justice.

Strange things are happening at Greybourne Hall. There are strange, mysterious people who seem to wander into the Hall – and then, there is the strange, lone, masked rider that can be seen in the late, misty, hours of the night. You’ll wonder who is good and who is not. You’ll wonder what is going on with all of the strange and mysterious people and night rides. If you read a lot of mysteries, you’ll soon realize the answer to one of your questions. That isn’t a problem because then you’ll be reading to find out if you are right – and to find the rest of the answers.

I enjoyed the read, but I have to tell you, I found Rebecca almost TSTL. She did the riskiest things – things that would not only cause harm to herself but would/could put others at risk as well. Her reasons for doing the things she does are some of the most convoluted I’ve seen. To this reader, being strong and independent also includes being savvy and making intelligent, well-thought-out decisions. Rebecca fell far short in that department. She didn’t seem to have any impulse control at all.

I listened to the audio version and generally enjoyed the narrator. Her voice is mellow and well-modulated, and her delivery of most of the female voices is good. Her male voices leave something to be desired. The way she makes male voices is to make them more guttural and to slow them so they seem to be the English version of a Southern drawl.

I enjoyed the read and can recommend it. If you choose to read it, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. show less