Tyringham Park

Tyringham Park #1

by Rosemary McLoughlin

The country estate of Tyringham Park is the epitome of wealth and privilege. Home to the Blackshaws, it finds itself the backdrop to tragedy.

It is a beautiful day in 1917, and Tyringham Park is in an uproar after Victoria Blackshaw, an innocent toddler, disappears without a trace. The feverish search for Victoria soon uncovers jealousies and deceits that both the upstairs and downstairs inhabitants of the grand estate have fought for years to keep hidden.

As time passes, Victoria’s disappearance casts a long shadow over all of their lives. Charlotte, the Blackshaws’ less-favored eight-year-old daughter, finds herself severely impacted by the loss of her sister. Charlotte’s greatest wish is to escape the con­fines of the estate, but Tyringham Park and its many mysteries may never release their hold on her. Like all those at Tyringham Park, she is caught in a web of passions and secrets, trysts and betrayals that seems to ensnare everyone connected to this once great house.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Ireland, Adult Fiction, British Literature

522 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 23, 2012

Reviews

[Chloe (Paint and Butterflies Books) · Rating 1 out of 5]

So, I have become a little addicted to the book haul videos on Youtube, you know the ones when avid readers tickle your taste buds with there monthly reading lists.

I purchased Tyringham Park by Rosemary McLoughlin on the promise of it being just like Downton. Now, as an avid Downton Abbey fan I think I was bamboozled into buying this book mainly by the big house on the cover and the Amazon quotes that stated if you love Downton Abbey you will love this, I can’t stress enough how this is nothing like Downton Abbey.

There is no glamor in this book what so ever and no really protagonist, the main character how ever is Charlotte Blackshaw who’s father is the Lord at Tyrinham park, her mother shows very little interest in her or her little sister Victoria and, one afternoon her Ladyship for some unknown reason decides she will have an hour with little Victoria which is completely out of character during this hour the child disappears, it is believed by most that Victoria fell into the river and drowned when her Ladyship was not looking but, Lady Edwina believes she has been abducted.

Charlotte’s tale really is a sad one, abused by her nanny and hated by her mother as she grows up through the novel the consequences of such a horrific emotional neglect play out and affect Charlotte as an adult and she struggles to believe that she is worth more than nothing. As the reader we are supposed to feel for Charlotte in her darkest hours but it is hard to feel for a character that is so self destructive and, eventually I lost interest in the out come of her character. It is also hard to read a book when there is no one to root for, we follow Charlotte’s story but I’m not sure if I wanted her to win in the end, as a reader she tested my patience. For me Lady Blackshaw is the most interesting Character because she is such an appalling mother and, human being.

All in all, Tyingham Park is written okay but there is know real flare, I would recommend it to people who don’t mind not falling in love with the characters they are reading about or at the very least liking them, most of the characters in this novel are highly despicable and I’m sure that was the point but, for me it was all a bit like hard work.


To see more reviews and things check out my blog - http://themusingsofchlo.wordpress.com/

[Mirella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tyringham Park is an epic family saga about the wealthy Blackshaw family who live on a large estate in Ireland. The story begins when the youngest daughter, a young child named Victoria, goes missing. As the story unfolds, the personalities and motivations of family and servants within the household are slowly revealed as the family structure begins to fall apart. At the heart of the story is Charlotte. Ignored by her cold, unloving mother, she suffers horrendous abuse by her nanny.

I love historical family sagas and this book provided me with hours of pure enjoyment. I love how the characters changed and/or interacted with each other. They were unpredictable, each with their own faults. Although the novel is quite long, and at times a little slow, in no way did this take away from my enjoyment. I continued to be interested in the story. With an unforgettable surprise ending, I definitely recommend this book to all who love family drama and epic stories of great depth. A wonderful read, that’s for certain!

[Annemarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich gebe dem Buch zwei Sterne für die Spannung. Aber mehr konnte ich leider nicht finden. Trotzdem habe ich es zu Ende gelesen, weil ich wissen wollte, wie es weiter geht...
Schon am Anfang wird klar: in diesem Buch gibt es keinen einzigen sympathisches Charakter. Wen soll man den da mögen? Die Leute sind entweder grausam, gestört oder zu blass dargestellt. Ab der Mitte, kann man sich vielleicht mit 2 - 3 Figuren anfreunden.
Der Leser braucht echt starke Nerven, denn in diesem Buch passiert nichts Gutes. Die Autorin hat keine Gnade, alles endet in einer mittleren bis absoluten Katastrophe. Das ist sehr zermürbend. Bis zum Ende hatte ich Hoffnung, die aber leider nicht erfüllt wurde. Wer Bücher liest, weil er anderr leiden sehen will, der wird hier aber fündig werden.
Die Aussage "Fans von Downton Abbey werden es lieben." ist die Übertreibung des Jahrhunderts. Es gibt genau zwei Gemeinsamkeiten mit Downton Abbey:
1. In diesem Buch gibt es Adlige und Bedienstete.
2. Das Buch spielt ungefähr zur selben Zeit.
Beschreibungen, die einem die Zeitspanne näher bringen, sucht man vergeblich.
Das Potenzial des Plots und das Vermögen der Autorin Spannungsbögen zu konstruieren werden absolut nicht genutzt.

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Tyringham Park" is the story of a rich family who is deeply affected when when of their daughters disappears. Charlotte, the daughter who is left behind, is constantly reminded of what happened to her young sister, Victoria. She feels guilty because she is still there when her sister is gone but there may be more than meets the eye there.

It took me a bit to get into this book. This book has been compared to Downton Abbey but it is quite different. Yes, there is a little bit of the tension between the upstairs and downstairs like Downton but it really just focuses on Charlotte's story whereas Downton focuses on everyone in the household. Charlotte's family owns a huge estate but while Downton almost feels like a character in Downton Abbey but Charlotte's family's houses Charlotte does have an interesting story that unfolded slowly but ends with a surprise!

The synopsis really does not begin to tell the whole story. Victoria's disappearance is the very beginning of this story. I really felt bad for Charlotte. She takes on so much as a child from the adults that are supposed to care for her. Her mother and her nanny are pretty abusive, which was quite uncomfortable to read. I wish that the story had focused a little more on her young life. I also wish that we got to understand why she did what she did (I don't want to give anything away about the mystery at the center of this book). The storytelling in the book was ok. I felt that there were some places that could be slimmed down a little bit.

I did like the setting of the book. The book takes place both in Ireland and Australia, two places that I love reading about. I really enjoyed the armchair traveling that you get in this book!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tyringham Park is an unusual novel. The cover review equates it to the Last September meets Downton Abbey, which is what initially drew me in. While it’s set in Ireland during WWI and deals with the aristocracy like Last September and while everyone is particularly nasty to one another and there’s upstairs/downstairs drama like Downton Abbey, that’s where the comparisons ends.
The novel centers on the psychological life of Charlotte Blackshaw, the wealthy daughter of landed gentry. There’s insight into other surrounding characters but the star of the show is Charlotte. For all her wealth and social status, she does not have it easy. She’s at the mercy of many an abuser (her nanny and mother to start with) from childhood upwards and despite the respites in her life, she never manages to recover from the traumas of her childhood.
As the story spins out, it’s clear that Charlotte cannot get anything right. She’s the soul sister to Alex Clare in E.M. Delafield’s “Consequences.” Both women are prisoners of circumstance and personality, unable to crawl out of the misery of their lives. So many avenues of escape are unavailable for these late Victorian women—anything from education or work or anything else that fosters a positive self-esteem.
Tyringham Park follows the dark days that result from a woman’s traumatic childhood and it unflinchingly follows a lifetime of hopelessness and depression. There are bright spots in Charlotte’s life and the book is ultimately a page turner with this reader racing to know what would happen next to Charlotte.
There are some flaws—such as we’re repeatedly told how bright and interesting Charlotte is but we rarely, if ever, see the proof. I also skipped quite a few pages and didn't feel the lack. But overall, the novel is unusual in how it combines readability with honesty, exploring the life story of the woman’s body and her mind.

[Juliane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Insgesamt hat mir das Buch nicht gefallen. Es hat seine Höhen und Tiefen, doch leider können die wenigen Höhepunkte die negativen Passagen nicht retten.

Die Charaktere sind durchweg unsympathisch. Von Zeit zu Zeit dachte ich, dass Charlotte sich macht und zur tragischen Heldin wird. Doch ihre fragwürdigen Handlungen und ihre ständigen Allüren gefielen mir nicht.

Alle anderen Charaktere waren von Anfang bis Ende unsympathisch. Das Verschwinden der kleinen Victoria verliert so schnell an Bedeutung, dass man den Teil auch gleich hätte sein lassen können.

Viele Punkte haben mir übel aufgestoßen. Todesfälle und Vergewaltigungen vorneweg. Auch das Ende ist mehr als enttäuschend, so viel Potential hat doch so eine hochherrschaftliche Familie - wie kann man es so verschwenden?

Das Buch ist an sich abgeschlossen, allerdings geht die Geschichte mit Nachfahren weiter ("Rückkehr nach Tyringham Park"). Mit Sicherheit werde ich diesen Roman nicht lesen. Denn das angepriesene Geheimnis ist nach Lesen diesen Bandes keines mehr.

[Margaret Madden · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A country estate in Ireland, Tyringham Park is the home to Blackshaw family. The disappearance of baby Victoria, has left an empty space in the hearts and minds of many. Sister Charlotte is haunted by her memory, while mother, Edwina is sure that a missing staff member is the key to the missing child. The dark shadows of Tyringham Park hide the chilly atmosphere of the house and its residents.
A tale of clear division between landed gentry and their staff, secrets and lies and the need to keep up appearances, against all odds...

I was a late comer to this novel. Published in 2012, it was a bestseller, here in Ireland and was shortlisted for the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards. The past six or seven years has seen a surge in historical fiction, based in grand country homes, and we can thank Downton Abbey for this. However, this novel is set in Ireland, just after the War of Independence, and the Lord of this Estate is a British army man with no interest in the Irish Estate, preferring to spend his time in London. This leaves Tyringham Park, and Lady Blackshaw, to its own devices. A harsh woman, she has no interest in either the house or her children. She is obsessed with her horses and cares more for their ability to hunt well than anything else in her life. When Charlotte, her daughter, shows promise as a rider, Lady Blackshaw is horrified. Jealousy consumes her, and leads to disaster.
All through the book, we get a glimpse of servant life, mostly through the nanny and housekeeper. Nurse Dixon is the evil element and we get to follow her story, along with other staff members.

This was a funny read. I wasn't really sure how I was feeling as I was reading. Amused, baffled, curious and, quiet simply, hooked....
By rights, I shouldn't have liked this. It is over the top, unrealistic and full of bizarre characters that seem almost theatrical. But I devoured it in two sittings. It was addictive. A bit like Downton Abbey, it has that guilty pleasure thing going for it. I am actually really looking forward to the sequel, Return to Tyringham Park, which is due out in March. Now, pass me that bell, so I can ring for my maid.....

[Linda Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins in the early 1900's on a country estate in southern Ireland, a baby girl goes missing whilst playing with her elder sister Charlotte, Charlotte's nanny Nurse Dixon and her mother are forever berating Charlotte for being too plain and not doing as she's told, however all is not what it seems. I felt Charlotte suffered a lot of mental abuse from her mother as well as mental and physical abuse from her nanny, and the story follows Charlotte's life as she grows up and tries to start her own life and family, heartbreaking at times, so many secrets in her family, worth a read.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a darker twist on the 'Downton' genre, but one I actually enjoyed nonetheless. McLoughlin did an excellent job of making these characters so very full of flaws, to the point there there really is no single character that is really all that admirable. Nurse Dixon, for example, scared the hell out of me. Talk about creepy.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first half story really sucked me in but as the story went on I found it harder and harder to enjoy it. The strange thing was I couldn't stop reading. I could not like any of the characters and found the whole story very depressing. It could have been a lot better.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review is at Reading the Past.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

unfortunately it seemed to me that everybody turned into selfish self absorbed people by end if book and I didn't much care what happened to any of them.

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow, drawn out, clunky, unlikeable characters and not in a good way. 2 stars is being generous.

[Läseliebi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Die zwei Sterne gibt es weil ich von Anfang an sehr gefesselt war an das Buch. Das Buch ist denn stilistisch auch sehr stark. Man hat von Anfang an Mitleid mit Charlotte und ich wollte unbedingt wissen wie sie sich entwickelt, wohin ihre Geschichte führen wird. Die unerwartete Wendung, dass sie sich immer mehr zu einer unsympatischen und egoistischen Hauptfigur entwickelt, die ab einer bestimmten Stelle einfach nur noch hassenswert wird, fand ich erfrischend.
Leider scheint mit diesem schrecklichen "Höhepunkt" des Romans auch die Freude der Autorin am Schreiben vorbeigewesen zu sein. Danach plätschert sie nur noch dahin, die einzelnen Abschnitte verlieren irgendwie den Bezug zueinander. Das Ende ist sehr unoriginell und absehbar. Ich hatte das Gefühl der Autorin ist die Lust vergangen und dass sie selber ihre Charaktere in diesem Zeitpunkt so fest hasste, dass sie ein möglichst schnelles und unoriginelles Ende gesucht hat.
Das war ein Roman - bei dem ich aufgrund des sehr spannenden und guten ersten Teils schon zu viel Zeit und Emotionen investiert habe - und mich deswegen durch die zweite Hälfte gekämpft habe. Natürlich hatte ich auch noch die Hoffnung, dass es sich evtl. nur um eine kleine "Flaute" im Lauf der Geschichte handelt, diese Hoffnung wurde leider komplett enttäuscht. Am Ende blieb ich unbefriedigt und enttäuscht zurück so viele Lesestunden und Emotionen für so ein schwaches Ende geopfert zu haben.
Ich habe die deutsche Übersetzung aus dem Englischen von Dietmar Schmidt gelesen.

[KeenReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, which was a surprise because it's not my usual type of book. I like crime/mysteries and I got this because a child disappears in the early stages of the book, so I thought it was a crime/mystery book with a historical setting. It isn't really, it's more of a family saga with a mystery as a subplot.
It's character driven rather than plot driven, but I enjoyed the way the author painted a picture of her characters and when you had made up your mind how you felt about them, revealed something of their background that made you reconsider. For most of the book I enjoyed the way they interacted to create the drama in the plot, although there was one part that seemed a bit forced, with one of the major characters acting in a way that seemed inconsistent with her character. Despite that weakness, overall it was a good satisfying read.
The mysterious disappearance of the child is resolved by the end of the book, but I'd almost forgot about that part of the plot by that time (that is not a criticism).

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I persevered with this book as I read a couple of the back pages and wanted to know what resulted in the mystery, but reality was I was disappointed, not in the mystery but in the characters. Like Austen's 'Emma', there needed a warning stating that you are not going to like the protagonists. All three main women were basically horrible people, even the main girl Charlotte who you wanted to be sorry for because of the way she was brought up, but instead of being an 'Anne', she didn't become a nice person despite her upbringing but instead was still manipulative and selfish. There really needed to be a character that you could root for, but there just wasn't and that was a shame. It could have been written that way but you really need a reason to stick around and it's usually the characters that make that happen. Not sure if I will bother reading the squeal.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book in the series. Set at an English estate in the timeframe surrounding the Great War, Victoria,a toddler goes missing, causing a massive search which will have long term consequences for all of those that live on the estate as it sets in motion the unveiling of secrets. Over time, Charlotte, the older daughter, who suffered as the less favored daughter and who suffered abuse by their nanny, longs to escape from the estate. She forms an attachment with her brother’s friend and is determined to have him, plotting a course that leaves him no choice but to marry her. The disgrace leads them to a post in Australia, where the exile takes a toll on both, leading to a series of tragic choices with far reaching consequences. As the book continues, the mystery behind Victoria’s disappearance is revealed with chilling motivations from the primary characters.

[Ann Boytim · Rating 3 out of 5]

1917 on a beautiful day at Tyringham Park a large country estate the place is in an uproar as a little girl has gone missing. Victoria is a toddler who was taken out for a walk by her mother (a rare time for this as she was usually taken care of by her nanny). Victoria's sister is the less favored daughter and is a problem 8 year old. The nanny has two sides - one for adults and the other for the children who she abuses verbally as well as physically. Victoria is never found and the Nanny is dismissed by the housekeeper and eventually moves to Australia. Lots of secrets and twists and turns in this book.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Victoria, just under two years old, is missing. No one can find her anywhere. Her pram is left sitting under a tree in the courtyard, after her mother had taken Victoria from the nurse for a walk.

Was Victoria abducted? did she climb out of the carriage and fall into the river? why did her mother leave the carriage unattended? no one can seem to find any answers...

At the time young Victoria goes missing, Charlotte, her older sister, is eight years old. The nurse Miss Dixon is abusive and just plain downright mean to her the two children (a well-known fact among the rest of the staff; but of course, no one wants to blow the whistle on Miss Dixon).

Miss East, the housekeeper, takes advantage of being put in charge while Charlotte's mother is away and sacks Miss Dixon. (there. That takes care of that! But, hold on.... we have not seen the last of mean ol' Miss Dixon!!!)

Charlotte grows up and learns many accomplishments. However her mother Edwina, is *not* impressed. Seemingly Edwina has no natural affection for her daughter as she also treats Charlotte shamefully. In one instance, for example, Charlotte's favorite horse has to be put down due to her mother's direct intervention during a fox hunt.

(Are you beginning to feel sorry for Charlotte yet? is there any hope for Charlotte to take a normal role within society?) Between the treatment from her old nurse and her own mother, it's pretty obvious that Charlotte could very easily grow up confused, bitter and unable to cope with her repressed anger and emotion.

Thankfully there are some who continue to invest in Charlotte's life to bring meaning and hope to her, as both her riding trainer and her art instructor seek to encourage her talents.

Charlotte meets her brother Harcourt's friend, Lochlann, who is in love with and hoping to marry Niamh. And suddenly Charlotte decides she wants Lochlann for herself:

"...Charlotte imagined what it would be like to be married to Lochlann. It would be a heavenly state, in which she need never fear abandonment again. Her mother had handed her over to Nurse Dixon, her father was never at home when he was needed, Miss East had chosen Catherine and Sid over her....and she never saw Manus. If Lochlann were legally tied to her for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death did them part, all the hurt she had suffered in the past would be canceled out."

Charlotte decides to trick Lochlann (who is in love with someone else) into marrying her (manipulation and self-interest seems to be one thing she learned from her mother):

"Edwina then bullied the local priest into officiating at a wedding ceremony three weeks hence, a speedy resolution by anyone's reckoning. To ensure the contract would be legal and binding by Lochlann's standards, she swallowed her prejudices and opted for a Catholic service. Let them try to get out of that one. Finally she booked two one-way tickets from Southampton on a cargo ship. By registering Lochlann as a doctor, she was not charged for the fares."

(if at this point you are thinking this novel reads like a soap opera, you are probably right!)

The author could have made so much more out of Charlotte's character. Unfortunately there is no redeeming qualities at all that I could find. (Charlotte's repressed anger erupts in the end...)

I really wanted to like this book! I kept on reading, hoping to find that Charlotte's relationships with others in her life are going to have a positive effect and that she will find meaning in her art and starting her own family.

In my novel reading I don't necessarily *need* a happy ending or even a resolution that appears to tie up every loose end, but I *do* like to see some growth or character development through the challenges in the plot, so that I can identify with (or, conversely, be critical of), the choices made. I had a hard time engaging with any of the characters, to be honest! Miss East, the housekeeper, is one character that has some admirable qualities (but unfortunately she is so wishy-washy that I just couldn't find any 'depth' to her in the story!)

The mystery of Victoria's disappearance is not revealed until the ending, but in my estimation, it was quite disappointing. (There were other reviews that were quite favorable so it could be I read this at the wrong time!) One review says it this way:

"Victoria's disappearance affects these women the rest of their lives as they go through being crippled, severely depressed, lying and stealing, and experiencing such loss. "Tyringham Park" is a novel of loss and how it impacts everyone in different ways.

"Tyringham Park" is being advertising as a "Downton Abbey" style book, but it is darker and much more emotionally complex. Characters do not get happy endings in this novel and often times experience true pain or lash out at others and do cruel or hurtful things

This novel can be a difficult read as it changes character point of view frequently throughout the novel and is very dark, depressing, and unhappy."

(The reviewer quoted above called this novel, in spite of its dark themes, 'rich and fascinating'. I suppose we all have different tastes!) I don't like having to say it (because I love books and reading so much!), but, when they aren't my cup of tea...well, this one, somehow, missed it with me.

[Adri Dosi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zajímavé čtení, odpočinkové, i když s dost dramaty a zvraty. Nápad se mi líbil. Vadilo mi tam, že někde byla kniha rozvinutá a někde utnutá, jakoby odfláknutá. Nebyla vyvážená a i když se skákalo v čase, tak si myslím, že v některých místech to šlo udělat jinak, lépe. Autorka si s tím moa více vyhrát. Škoda, je to tak na tři a půl hvězdy. Taky mi zrovna nevyhoval font a nahuštění textu. Ale jinak pro relax dobrý, zápletka zajímavá, vyústění rovněž.

[ADracaena · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writting style was pretty good, so I gave a star for that. I thought it would be like the book Rebecca, and there were some of the darker elements there, but there weren't any characters that I felt like I could support.

With Rebecca, I cared about the new wife, and concerned about the outcome. With this book, even characters I thought I could get behind do something morally irredeemable.

[Margob99 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well-written, but unrelentingly depressing. It was hard to find anything positive among the cast of characters, and at no point was there a turning point, a resolution of all the historical mistakes in the past. The tragedy just kept getting deeper and deeper. Not what I expected, or hoped for.

[Marion · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wie schon geschrieben wurde, hat das Buch nichts mit Downton Abbey gemein und ich habe selten Bücher gelesen, in denen fast jeder Charakter unsympatisch bis bösartig ist.
Es hat sich gutless lassen und ich habe bis zuletzt auf zumindest ein happy end gehofft.

[Karen Condon · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an ok story, bit predictable. Easy read, but not exactly gripping.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow strart but a good read

[Renita D'Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just wonderful.

[Marion Aranjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy and enjoyable read. Sad how adults treat children.

[Helen Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this because the story was great and The characters so nasty!

[Sara G · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 5%. Tedious and confusing, I am moving on to something else. Life's too short!

[The Devine Ms Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's better than a historical fiction family saga. My favourite. So I hunkered down and I was hooked. For the first 3/4 of the book. I finished the book but was disappointed in the last 1/4.