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Midnight at Maidenstone Hall
In the spring of 1919, a young man assumes the alias of Marsden Fisher and travels to Maidenstone Hall, the Yorkshire country residence of the Earl and Countess of Scarborough, to tutor their daughter Alice. Searching for the truth about the death of his lover, Alice’s late brother Simon, Marsden arrives to find that nothing is as he expected it to be. The house has been half destroyed by fire, the family’s financial ruin is imminent, and only a small core of frightened but loyal servants remain to serve them.
Alice and her twin sister Beatrice are feuding so terribly that they cannot be in the same room together. It is clear the family is hiding a terrible secret and the lies surrounding Simon’s death convince Marsden to fear for his own safety. The longer he stays at Maidenstone, the more he fears the family will discover his true identity and his relationship with Simon, but Marsden cannot leave until he discovers the about Simon, and the terrible screams that echo through the Hall at midnight.
Alice and her twin sister Beatrice are feuding so terribly that they cannot be in the same room together. It is clear the family is hiding a terrible secret and the lies surrounding Simon’s death convince Marsden to fear for his own safety. The longer he stays at Maidenstone, the more he fears the family will discover his true identity and his relationship with Simon, but Marsden cannot leave until he discovers the about Simon, and the terrible screams that echo through the Hall at midnight.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2023
107 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This book would have been 4 stars if not for the subtle (blatant, actually) homophobic shit.
Good things first, I enjoyed the process of uncovering the mystery. I figured out a lot of the plot twists, but I personally don't view that as a sign of bad writing; rather I feel that it shows that the author planned the mystery in a manner that will make sense to the reader, instead of coming up with a plot twist that comes out of nowhere just to shock the reader. The writing is also accessible and enjoyable, and the atmosphere is chilling and adds to the gothic vibe of the story. The pacing was engaging and kept me interested in uncovering the mystery.
Moving on to the critiques (I'm going to do this from bad to worst):
I joked with my sister that reading this felt like playing a game, where you can control the character to walk up to the NPCs and spam the question prompts to get the answers you need before moving on. The main character asks a shit load of questions, just question after question in a single conversation, until the other characters point out that he's asking a lot of questions and the conversation ends. Almost every conversation in this book is like this. This is not a big issue and can be overlooked for the sake of the story.
This book also needs editing. There's a lot of typos that will presumably be fixed before the book comes out. There's also a big action scene at the climax, and the writing is weirdly stiff. It's very, this character did this. This character lunged at this character. This character fell to the ground. This character picked up an object. This character threw an object at this other character. The writing just took me out of what should have been a thrilling climax.
I have noticed that a few other reviews mentioned this, but I feel this bears repeating. Simon is portrayed as such a horrible character, with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He also leans into the negative bisexual stereotype of being a flirt who sleeps around (and also rapes people). He is completely vilified, with no explanation for why he is that way. Not that villains/antagonists/bad people in general deserve explanations for why they do bad things, but considering that the MC fell in love with this guy, surely there has to be a little more depth to this story than finding out that, surprise! Simon was a horrible person all along.
This leads into my next critique. This book is weirdly homophobic. I was initially under the impression that the MC is bi, because he feels attraction towards the twins. That is fine. Later, the narrative off-handedly mentions that the twins are the only women he has ever felt attraction to. Considering the fact that he was disowned by his father for being caught with another guy, and he considers his whole life and future being ruined because of that, you might think that he would have a reaction, or maybe some thoughts and feelings, towards discovering an attraction to women. He has none whatsoever. Ok man. This might be a side effect of bad writing but I don't think so. I think this was done with intent.
Anyway, ignoring the homophobic shit, the ending also comes out of left field, and is just a completely different vibe from the rest of the book. Why would a gothic vibe murder mystery story end like that??? I wish the last 10 percent of this book was cut out.
There's more weird shit in this book, like looking at his now daughter and romanticising the way she resembles his dead ex (my brother in christ, she is a rape/incest baby), but I don't have time for that. Overall, book sucks, hire sensitivity readers, or just don't write about gay people ever again.
This book would have been 4 stars if not for the subtle (blatant, actually) homophobic shit.
Good things first, I enjoyed the process of uncovering the mystery. I figured out a lot of the plot twists, but I personally don't view that as a sign of bad writing; rather I feel that it shows that the author planned the mystery in a manner that will make sense to the reader, instead of coming up with a plot twist that comes out of nowhere just to shock the reader. The writing is also accessible and enjoyable, and the atmosphere is chilling and adds to the gothic vibe of the story. The pacing was engaging and kept me interested in uncovering the mystery.
Moving on to the critiques (I'm going to do this from bad to worst):
I joked with my sister that reading this felt like playing a game, where you can control the character to walk up to the NPCs and spam the question prompts to get the answers you need before moving on. The main character asks a shit load of questions, just question after question in a single conversation, until the other characters point out that he's asking a lot of questions and the conversation ends. Almost every conversation in this book is like this. This is not a big issue and can be overlooked for the sake of the story.
This book also needs editing. There's a lot of typos that will presumably be fixed before the book comes out. There's also a big action scene at the climax, and the writing is weirdly stiff. It's very, this character did this. This character lunged at this character. This character fell to the ground. This character picked up an object. This character threw an object at this other character. The writing just took me out of what should have been a thrilling climax.
I have noticed that a few other reviews mentioned this, but I feel this bears repeating. Simon is portrayed as such a horrible character, with absolutely no redeeming qualities whatsoever. He also leans into the negative bisexual stereotype of being a flirt who sleeps around (and also rapes people). He is completely vilified, with no explanation for why he is that way. Not that villains/antagonists/bad people in general deserve explanations for why they do bad things, but considering that the MC fell in love with this guy, surely there has to be a little more depth to this story than finding out that, surprise! Simon was a horrible person all along.
This leads into my next critique. This book is weirdly homophobic. I was initially under the impression that the MC is bi, because he feels attraction towards the twins. That is fine. Later, the narrative off-handedly mentions that the twins are the only women he has ever felt attraction to. Considering the fact that he was disowned by his father for being caught with another guy, and he considers his whole life and future being ruined because of that, you might think that he would have a reaction, or maybe some thoughts and feelings, towards discovering an attraction to women. He has none whatsoever. Ok man. This might be a side effect of bad writing but I don't think so. I think this was done with intent.
Anyway, ignoring the homophobic shit, the ending also comes out of left field, and is just a completely different vibe from the rest of the book. Why would a gothic vibe murder mystery story end like that??? I wish the last 10 percent of this book was cut out.
There's more weird shit in this book, like looking at his now daughter and romanticising the way she resembles his dead ex (my brother in christ, she is a rape/incest baby), but I don't have time for that. Overall, book sucks, hire sensitivity readers, or just don't write about gay people ever again.
November 23, 2023
A great read. Grabbed my interest from the beginning. I love the tension and misdirection .My only complaint is a couple of typos.
December 29, 2023
When young Marsden Fisher's lover Simon, goes missing on a trip to his family's estate during the Great War and loses contact with him, Marsden poses as a tutor to the family's daughter in order to find out what really happened to him. The year is 1919 and the Great War has finally ended but Simon never returned to Marsden, he is left angry and confused wondering if the feelings they shared were really untrue, after all Simon was at times harsh and unfeeling, even cruel but Marsden cannot let go and he is haunted by his feelings and hopes that somehow Simon will return to him. By a stroke of luck there is a position for a tutor open at Maidenstone Hall Simon's ancestral home, he decides to apply and gains employment as tutor to young Lady Alice, Simon's younger sister. Once there he finds that there are many secrets involving Simon from his parents to his two sisters and even the servants, no one will clarify exactly what happened to Simon, did he die, is he missing, will he return, the deeper that Marsden digs for answers the harder it is to know the real truth and just when he thinks he uncovers the truth more shocking secrets reveal themselves.
This was absolutely suspenseful so much so that it's like a roller coaster ride in a dark tunnel, you just didnt know what to expect and the layers of twist and turns added to the enjoyment of reading this.
Thank you to author Alison Clare and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this for my unbiased review.
This was absolutely suspenseful so much so that it's like a roller coaster ride in a dark tunnel, you just didnt know what to expect and the layers of twist and turns added to the enjoyment of reading this.
Thank you to author Alison Clare and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this for my unbiased review.
December 27, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for the copy.
Overall I have to say that I really enjoyed this! I had a hard time getting into the book for the first few pages, but once I got into the mood I was absolutely hooked. The old, decrepit house and all the secrecy of the characters created some immaculate vibes and I was super interested all along. It was easy to get through and if I had the time I would have read it in a single sitting.
Regarding the characters, I have to say that, even after finishing it, I still don't know how I feel about Marsden Fisher (our main character). His recklessness bothered me at times and I felt that he didn't always think too much about consequences. However this wasn't bad enough to get me out of the story as I understood that his character was meant to be rather emotional. I did feel quite bad for him and I found myself sympathazing a lot. My favorite characters by far ended up being Nancy and Mrs. Huston, even tho I was quite weary of them at the begining, they did en up growing up on me.
The plot was a bit predictable and I saw most of the twists coming, but some did catch me by surprise and I was greatly pleased. I also enjoyed the ending and I like that it still kept a bit of mystery.
I do have to say that the amount of typos was mildly annoying, there were far more than there should have been and I think this should be revised.
Overall I have to say that I really enjoyed this! I had a hard time getting into the book for the first few pages, but once I got into the mood I was absolutely hooked. The old, decrepit house and all the secrecy of the characters created some immaculate vibes and I was super interested all along. It was easy to get through and if I had the time I would have read it in a single sitting.
Regarding the characters, I have to say that, even after finishing it, I still don't know how I feel about Marsden Fisher (our main character). His recklessness bothered me at times and I felt that he didn't always think too much about consequences. However this wasn't bad enough to get me out of the story as I understood that his character was meant to be rather emotional. I did feel quite bad for him and I found myself sympathazing a lot. My favorite characters by far ended up being Nancy and Mrs. Huston, even tho I was quite weary of them at the begining, they did en up growing up on me.
The plot was a bit predictable and I saw most of the twists coming, but some did catch me by surprise and I was greatly pleased. I also enjoyed the ending and I like that it still kept a bit of mystery.
I do have to say that the amount of typos was mildly annoying, there were far more than there should have been and I think this should be revised.
December 30, 2024
What an incredible book. The writing, the story, the characters, everything just came together to make this a possible top ten read of the year for me (just in time, too!)
This book is absolutely filled with twists and turns, but it never once felt like it was overdoing it. The author managed to write a complicated story while having it make sense and be gripping from page one.
This book is absolutely filled with twists and turns, but it never once felt like it was overdoing it. The author managed to write a complicated story while having it make sense and be gripping from page one.
February 18, 2024
strong trigger warning for incest rape.
"when he closed his eyes, marsden could picture simon with astounding clarity: the breadth of his shoulders, the scent of his cologne, the way the wave of his blonde hair fell across his left eye when he laughed. he pictured simon's body beneath the soil, rotting and corrupted by earth and worms <...> no matter what he chose to do at this moment, he knew he was damned."
it's never a nice feeling to start a year with a let-down. unfortunately, "midnight at maidenstone hall" is the definition of interesting concept, lacking execution. the summary certainly piqued my interest – a young man with an alias arrives at an estate to work as a tutor for a girl who, as it happens, is the sister of his missing–presumed–dead lover, a fellow soldier he met as they fought in the great war.
while the mystery appears intriguing at first – what is the matter with alice and beatrice, what really happened to simon and why does everyone speak in hushed, upset tones about him – clare reveals her cards all too soon, especially with the pacing of the book. i guessed a few of the twist and was on the right track for a couple more – the problem is that they're revealed at around 60 percent mark of the story. you reach the pinnacle of the hidden truths and then have to trudge along for another hundred pages or so, painfully waiting for the story to wrap up. the latter half becomes very predictable, coming into some tropes that are glaringly obvious even to someone like me who hasn't read all that much gothic horror.
it's difficult to discuss the matter of queer rep in this book and its dubious shelving as "lgbtq+ lit" without getting into spoilers, but the crux of it is that while marsden is portrayed as a gay character, simon falls into certain negative stereotypes that gay men have been historically portrayed as (there's also the matter of such tropes beind applied to a character who's implied to be bisexual but let's save that can of worms for another time).
i wasn't fully sold on the writing style and use of language from the first few chapters – i love flowery language and it felt like some more flourish would've made the text more vibrant. the depiction of post-war britain did not feel very convincing to me, weakened further by the aforementioned writing style. but really, the errors throughout the text were the worst of it. my copy was an e-arc and while i hope that the errors were caught before the official release, they were so jarring it was hard to get into the text sometimes. from basic spelling errors, to mixing up the gender pronouns, to misspelling the names, to using what i assume to be the draft name of one character, to repetitive sentences and words – the whole text screamed for an editor's eye louder than alice screamed during her midnight bouts. it was also jarring how much american english spellings were used, especially given that the story is set in yorkshire and the author is australian.
overall, "midnight at maidenstone hall" struggles to be a ghost story, a psychological thriller, and a romantic tragedy, and, at the end of the day, fails at all three.
"when he closed his eyes, marsden could picture simon with astounding clarity: the breadth of his shoulders, the scent of his cologne, the way the wave of his blonde hair fell across his left eye when he laughed. he pictured simon's body beneath the soil, rotting and corrupted by earth and worms <...> no matter what he chose to do at this moment, he knew he was damned."
it's never a nice feeling to start a year with a let-down. unfortunately, "midnight at maidenstone hall" is the definition of interesting concept, lacking execution. the summary certainly piqued my interest – a young man with an alias arrives at an estate to work as a tutor for a girl who, as it happens, is the sister of his missing–presumed–dead lover, a fellow soldier he met as they fought in the great war.
while the mystery appears intriguing at first – what is the matter with alice and beatrice, what really happened to simon and why does everyone speak in hushed, upset tones about him – clare reveals her cards all too soon, especially with the pacing of the book. i guessed a few of the twist and was on the right track for a couple more – the problem is that they're revealed at around 60 percent mark of the story. you reach the pinnacle of the hidden truths and then have to trudge along for another hundred pages or so, painfully waiting for the story to wrap up. the latter half becomes very predictable, coming into some tropes that are glaringly obvious even to someone like me who hasn't read all that much gothic horror.
it's difficult to discuss the matter of queer rep in this book and its dubious shelving as "lgbtq+ lit" without getting into spoilers, but the crux of it is that while marsden is portrayed as a gay character, simon falls into certain negative stereotypes that gay men have been historically portrayed as (there's also the matter of such tropes beind applied to a character who's implied to be bisexual but let's save that can of worms for another time).
i wasn't fully sold on the writing style and use of language from the first few chapters – i love flowery language and it felt like some more flourish would've made the text more vibrant. the depiction of post-war britain did not feel very convincing to me, weakened further by the aforementioned writing style. but really, the errors throughout the text were the worst of it. my copy was an e-arc and while i hope that the errors were caught before the official release, they were so jarring it was hard to get into the text sometimes. from basic spelling errors, to mixing up the gender pronouns, to misspelling the names, to using what i assume to be the draft name of one character, to repetitive sentences and words – the whole text screamed for an editor's eye louder than alice screamed during her midnight bouts. it was also jarring how much american english spellings were used, especially given that the story is set in yorkshire and the author is australian.
overall, "midnight at maidenstone hall" struggles to be a ghost story, a psychological thriller, and a romantic tragedy, and, at the end of the day, fails at all three.
January 20, 2024
I normally read romance novels, so this was out of my wheelhouse. But when I was younger, I loved mysteries, so I figured I would give this a try. There were some elements that I was able to predict, but others were a complete shock to me. It got a little spoopy at times (and I am a total wimp), but I still really enjoyed this book! No spoilers, but the little ending tease?? I loved.
Thanks NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thanks NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review!
January 23, 2024
I was disappointed by this book, and mostly because it was a fun read with a bad story that should’ve been a good one. This author truly does have talent, and I look forward to seeing more of her work as she matures as a writer with her plotlines. I think she does a good job of developing characters and writing nice plot twists.
My main complaints:
(1) This is not a book that should be labeled as lgbtq. Just because the main character is gay (yet ends up married to a woman with no inclination of ever finding a man to love again) does not mean the book itself can be called lgbt. I also worry about applying the label of a rapist child-murderer to arguably the second most important gay male figure in the book. This book does not offer representation at all. I was already worried about the author being female and not in a gay relationship writing this book, and I feel those worries were not unwarranted.
(2) This story can’t decide if it wants to be a psychological thriller or paranormal mystery, and thus leans into both to achieve neither.
I would rather it leaned more paranormal, as
the way an already heavily stigmatized mental illness is played out does not sit well with me as a reader. Additionally, the language used in the book describing this mental disorder is not accurate for the time frame.
I would not recommend this book, but I might recommend the author in the future. I would be willing to give her works another shot in the future if I hear good things.
My main complaints:
(1) This is not a book that should be labeled as lgbtq. Just because the main character is gay (yet ends up married to a woman with no inclination of ever finding a man to love again) does not mean the book itself can be called lgbt. I also worry about applying the label of a rapist child-murderer to arguably the second most important gay male figure in the book. This book does not offer representation at all. I was already worried about the author being female and not in a gay relationship writing this book, and I feel those worries were not unwarranted.
(2) This story can’t decide if it wants to be a psychological thriller or paranormal mystery, and thus leans into both to achieve neither.
I would rather it leaned more paranormal, as
the way an already heavily stigmatized mental illness is played out does not sit well with me as a reader. Additionally, the language used in the book describing this mental disorder is not accurate for the time frame.
I would not recommend this book, but I might recommend the author in the future. I would be willing to give her works another shot in the future if I hear good things.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2023
This was a very enjoyable read, and although I kind of figured out some of what was going on in the first 30%, there were still a number of twists and turns that caught me by surprised and warped everything. The characters were few, but very well-written and all of them had their secrets, quirks and distinct personalities. My favourite character would have to be Beatrice, because I just love her pyromaniac tendencies. Nevertheless, I didn't really care for the POV character, Marsden. He just seemed to be too obsessed with Simon and what happened to him to me, even though I understand it, I just couldn't relate. Alice and Beatrice made the book for me. I love strong women, who are strong despite the limitations put on them by their father. I came for the mopey gay boy and stayed for beautiful women. That's how I like it, to be honest.
Overall, it was a fun read even for someone who usually doesn't enjoy these types of investigative, mysterious, thriller-y books.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy!
Overall, it was a fun read even for someone who usually doesn't enjoy these types of investigative, mysterious, thriller-y books.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free review copy!
February 29, 2024
A good historical mystery with a touch of gothic. Well plotted, dark, highly entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
January 7, 2024
“Marsden Fisher” seeks answers as to what truly happened to his lover, Simon Falconer, who went home on leave during WWI three years ago and never returned back to the front. Fisher knows he didn’t die in the war and when he sees an advertisement as a tutor at Falconer’s home, he leaps at the chance to suss out where Falconer is. He quickly finds out that everyone in the Hall seems to be hiding secrets, and he has to make sure he holds onto his own, too.
Reading this book made me go “HA! I KNEW it!” generally followed immediately with “what the fuck?? WHAT THE FUCK” a bunch of times. I guessed most of the twists and secrets, yet it still astonished me to see it laid out in text—in a good way. The breadcrumbs of hints and clues as to what happened to Simon and why it happened are sprinkled throughout and you can pick them up if you pay attention.
There are a couple of typos here and there, but I assume that’ll be fixed up prior to the final printing. I also didn’t love the whole deal with Marsden and Beatrice and Alice, because it seems a little murky. The text made it sound like he wasn’t bisexual but strictly gay in that he hadn’t tried to be intimate very much with women, he was disowned by his father, and he referred to himself as abnormal and wished to have a family, but then he felt desire toward them and enjoyed kissing them and felt happy. So was it just that they reminded him of Simon? Was he just happy to have a family by any means necessary? I suppose I simply needed a little more clarification in the text because it’s between “instalove” or “well, I’m happy enough with this ready-made family”.
This book reads like a gothic horror, and is so engrossing you just can’t get away from it. The pages start to fall away, and if you’re like me, you’ll sit down to read a little and then finish off almost the entirety of the book in a single setting. Very atmospheric, and I’m both delighted to have picked it up and curious to see what else this author can produce.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Reading this book made me go “HA! I KNEW it!” generally followed immediately with “what the fuck?? WHAT THE FUCK” a bunch of times. I guessed most of the twists and secrets, yet it still astonished me to see it laid out in text—in a good way. The breadcrumbs of hints and clues as to what happened to Simon and why it happened are sprinkled throughout and you can pick them up if you pay attention.
There are a couple of typos here and there, but I assume that’ll be fixed up prior to the final printing. I also didn’t love the whole deal with Marsden and Beatrice and Alice, because it seems a little murky. The text made it sound like he wasn’t bisexual but strictly gay in that he hadn’t tried to be intimate very much with women, he was disowned by his father, and he referred to himself as abnormal and wished to have a family, but then he felt desire toward them and enjoyed kissing them and felt happy. So was it just that they reminded him of Simon? Was he just happy to have a family by any means necessary? I suppose I simply needed a little more clarification in the text because it’s between “instalove” or “well, I’m happy enough with this ready-made family”.
This book reads like a gothic horror, and is so engrossing you just can’t get away from it. The pages start to fall away, and if you’re like me, you’ll sit down to read a little and then finish off almost the entirety of the book in a single setting. Very atmospheric, and I’m both delighted to have picked it up and curious to see what else this author can produce.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
In an interesting twist on the popular Gothic novel trope, Midnight at Maidenstone Hall starts with the arrival of Marsden Fisher, a veteran of the Great War, at Maidenstone Hall, the Yorkshire residence of the Earl of Scarborough and his family, to tutor Alice, the daughter of the house. What the family doesn’t know is that Fisher is using an assumed name and infiltrating the household to discover what happened to his lover Simon, Alice’s brother, who had gone home on leave and vanished, although the official story is that he was killed in action. In addition to the withdrawn, troubled Alice, who is really too old for a tutor, he finds a deeply unhappy family - a cold father, alcoholic mother, and Alice’s mysterious twin Beatrice, who is as sardonic and flirtatious as Alice is sad and immature. He also hears disturbing stories about Simon, implying that he was not the dashing hero Fisher had fallen in love with, but he still persists in his quest to discover the secrets of Maidenstone Hall and possibly save at least one member of the family as well as exorcising his own ghosts.
While this book was based on an intriguing premise, for me at least it did not succeed in the execution. I kept putting it down and going back to it to the extent that it took me several weeks tor finish, and unfortunately I didn’t feel the kind of emotional connection to the characters that I would like to have had, and there wasn't enough depth to them for my taste. What made Simon the way he was, or is he just supposed to be a "bad seed"? It does seem as if growing up in that family might have had an effect but given that his fate is the central mystery I wish it had been explored more, as well as Fisher's complicated feelings toward all three siblings. It looks like a debut novel, however, and I feel that the author does show promise and look forward to seeing what she does in the future.
I received a copy of Midnight at Maidenstone Hall from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
While this book was based on an intriguing premise, for me at least it did not succeed in the execution. I kept putting it down and going back to it to the extent that it took me several weeks tor finish, and unfortunately I didn’t feel the kind of emotional connection to the characters that I would like to have had, and there wasn't enough depth to them for my taste. What made Simon the way he was, or is he just supposed to be a "bad seed"? It does seem as if growing up in that family might have had an effect but given that his fate is the central mystery I wish it had been explored more, as well as Fisher's complicated feelings toward all three siblings. It looks like a debut novel, however, and I feel that the author does show promise and look forward to seeing what she does in the future.
I received a copy of Midnight at Maidenstone Hall from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 18, 2024
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
The Publisher Says: In the spring of 1919, a young man assumes the alias of Marsden Fisher and travels to Maidenstone Hall, the Yorkshire country residence of the Earl and Countess of Scarborough, to tutor their daughter Alice. Searching for the truth about the death of his lover, Alice’s late brother Simon, Marsden arrives to find that nothing is as he expected it to be. The house has been half destroyed by fire, the family’s financial ruin is imminent, and only a small core of frightened but loyal servants remain to serve them.
Alice and her twin sister Beatrice are feuding so terribly that they cannot be in the same room together. It is clear the family is hiding a terrible secret and the lies surrounding Simon’s death convince Marsden to fear for his own safety. The longer he stays at Maidenstone, the more he fears the family will discover his true identity and his relationship with Simon, but Marsden cannot leave until he discovers the about Simon, and the terrible screams that echo through the Hall at midnight.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Very fun queering of the gothic-novel tradition. The atmospherics of the story are deft, absolutely in the gothic tradition, and marred by some typos that are, I hope, corrected by now. The aftermath of the Great War is underused by gothic storytellers as yet. May that channge after this.
Recommended, despite queer themes, for all audiences in search of a creepy read for #Deathtober.
Level Best Books asks $5.99 for a Kindle edition.
The Publisher Says: In the spring of 1919, a young man assumes the alias of Marsden Fisher and travels to Maidenstone Hall, the Yorkshire country residence of the Earl and Countess of Scarborough, to tutor their daughter Alice. Searching for the truth about the death of his lover, Alice’s late brother Simon, Marsden arrives to find that nothing is as he expected it to be. The house has been half destroyed by fire, the family’s financial ruin is imminent, and only a small core of frightened but loyal servants remain to serve them.
Alice and her twin sister Beatrice are feuding so terribly that they cannot be in the same room together. It is clear the family is hiding a terrible secret and the lies surrounding Simon’s death convince Marsden to fear for his own safety. The longer he stays at Maidenstone, the more he fears the family will discover his true identity and his relationship with Simon, but Marsden cannot leave until he discovers the about Simon, and the terrible screams that echo through the Hall at midnight.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: Very fun queering of the gothic-novel tradition. The atmospherics of the story are deft, absolutely in the gothic tradition, and marred by some typos that are, I hope, corrected by now. The aftermath of the Great War is underused by gothic storytellers as yet. May that channge after this.
Recommended, despite queer themes, for all audiences in search of a creepy read for #Deathtober.
Level Best Books asks $5.99 for a Kindle edition.
December 13, 2023
Marsden Fisher has come to Maidenstone Hall under false pretenses. He has been hired to tutor the nineteen year old daughter of the Earl and Countess of Scarborough but in reality he has come to find out the truth about the whereabouts of his lover, Simon. Simon was reported to have been killed in action, but Marsden knows that Simon had never returned to the unit where they both served after a visit home. Had the Earl used his influence to spirit him away somewhere when the war casualties got so high? Was Simon hiding on the estate?
But Marsden finds nothing but confusion and secrets at the Hall. His charge, Alice, also has a twin sister, Beatrice. Alice is shy and retiring, Beatrice is outgoing and flirty. The servants scurry around scared of something. The Countess is an alcoholic while the Earl is the pompous overbearing man Marsden expected. Can Marsden find the truth?
This is a debut novel. Alison Clare was born in Australia and lived around the world before settling in the United States. The setting is the end of World War I which is one of my favorite time periods. Marsden is an admirable character and the reader sees the prejudice against gay couples at the time and in fact, homosexuality was against the law. The plot of twin sisters is given an interesting twist here with Alice and Beatrice enemies of each other. The secrets of Maidenstone Hall are slowly revealed and no one is whom they seem. This book is recommended for readers of mysteries.
But Marsden finds nothing but confusion and secrets at the Hall. His charge, Alice, also has a twin sister, Beatrice. Alice is shy and retiring, Beatrice is outgoing and flirty. The servants scurry around scared of something. The Countess is an alcoholic while the Earl is the pompous overbearing man Marsden expected. Can Marsden find the truth?
This is a debut novel. Alison Clare was born in Australia and lived around the world before settling in the United States. The setting is the end of World War I which is one of my favorite time periods. Marsden is an admirable character and the reader sees the prejudice against gay couples at the time and in fact, homosexuality was against the law. The plot of twin sisters is given an interesting twist here with Alice and Beatrice enemies of each other. The secrets of Maidenstone Hall are slowly revealed and no one is whom they seem. This book is recommended for readers of mysteries.
January 23, 2024
I was disappointed by this book, and mostly because it was a fun read with a bad story that should’ve been a good one. This author truly does have talent, and I look forward to seeing more of her work as she matures as a writer with her plotlines. I think she does a good job of developing characters and writing nice plot twists.
My main complaints:
(1) This is not a book that should be labeled as lgbtq. Just because the main character is gay (yet ends up married to a woman with no inclination of ever finding a man to love again) does not mean the book itself can be called lgbt. I also worry about applying the label of a rapist child-murderer to arguably the second most important gay male figure in the book. This book does not offer representation at all. I was already worried about the author being female and not in a gay relationship writing this book, and I feel those worries were not unwarranted.
(2) This story can’t decide if it wants to be a psychological thriller or paranormal mystery, and thus leans into both to achieve neither.
I would rather it leaned more paranormal, as the way an already heavily stigmatized mental illness is played out does not sit well with me as a reader. Additionally, the language used in the book describing this mental disorder is not accurate for the time frame.
I would not recommend this book, but I might recommend the author in the future. I would be willing to give her works another shot in the future if I hear good things.
My main complaints:
(1) This is not a book that should be labeled as lgbtq. Just because the main character is gay (yet ends up married to a woman with no inclination of ever finding a man to love again) does not mean the book itself can be called lgbt. I also worry about applying the label of a rapist child-murderer to arguably the second most important gay male figure in the book. This book does not offer representation at all. I was already worried about the author being female and not in a gay relationship writing this book, and I feel those worries were not unwarranted.
(2) This story can’t decide if it wants to be a psychological thriller or paranormal mystery, and thus leans into both to achieve neither.
I would rather it leaned more paranormal, as the way an already heavily stigmatized mental illness is played out does not sit well with me as a reader. Additionally, the language used in the book describing this mental disorder is not accurate for the time frame.
I would not recommend this book, but I might recommend the author in the future. I would be willing to give her works another shot in the future if I hear good things.
January 3, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
This book was just so much fun. I’m not going to go into the plot in detail, because the plot is the best part of this book. It weaves together gothic horror, Victorian melodrama, a ghost story, and a twisting mystery. The breadcrumbs are well laid and I was able to keep up with the author for every reveal … at least, I thought so. Clare was honest in every turn, with no false leads, and it was just so very well done. And then the ending hit. The book is open ended, which some people may not enjoy, but I for one did.
The writing is elegant, setting the mood and atmosphere with spare, artful lines. The pacing is brisk, and while the book is on the longer side, I read it in one sitting. I can’t wait to see more from this author.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
This book was just so much fun. I’m not going to go into the plot in detail, because the plot is the best part of this book. It weaves together gothic horror, Victorian melodrama, a ghost story, and a twisting mystery. The breadcrumbs are well laid and I was able to keep up with the author for every reveal … at least, I thought so. Clare was honest in every turn, with no false leads, and it was just so very well done. And then the ending hit. The book is open ended, which some people may not enjoy, but I for one did.
The writing is elegant, setting the mood and atmosphere with spare, artful lines. The pacing is brisk, and while the book is on the longer side, I read it in one sitting. I can’t wait to see more from this author.
Read Veronica’s review in its entirety here.
January 12, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.
It’s hard to review this without spoilers so I won’t get into the plot. But if you like gothic novels, haunted English manors, a tad bit of Downton Abbey albeit DARK Downton Abbey vibes. This is for you.
This book was right up my alley.
There were a few times I THOUGHT I knew what was happening but was always wrong. This novel was a roller coaster of emotions.
I enjoyed the concept of Alice/Beatrice and how the book ended with you guessing who was ACTUALLY around. The downfall of the family was extremely sad. It was so depressing to read how a family can literally kill itself. I liked the real LBQTA+ representation in this story. I felt it was real to the period and gave the book depth.
This book is what Verity wanted and failed to be. I said what I said.
Five stars.
I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book. Just read it.
It’s hard to review this without spoilers so I won’t get into the plot. But if you like gothic novels, haunted English manors, a tad bit of Downton Abbey albeit DARK Downton Abbey vibes. This is for you.
This book was right up my alley.
There were a few times I THOUGHT I knew what was happening but was always wrong. This novel was a roller coaster of emotions.
I enjoyed the concept of Alice/Beatrice and how the book ended with you guessing who was ACTUALLY around. The downfall of the family was extremely sad. It was so depressing to read how a family can literally kill itself. I liked the real LBQTA+ representation in this story. I felt it was real to the period and gave the book depth.
This book is what Verity wanted and failed to be. I said what I said.
Five stars.
I can’t even begin to explain how much I loved this book. Just read it.
March 4, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for a copy of this book!
Set in 1919, Midnight at Maidenstone Hall follows Marsden Fisher (formerly Thomas Bäuerle) looking for answers on the disappearance of his lover Simon Falconer. Presumed dead by everyone, Marsden knows Simon was last seen at his home, Maidenstone Hall, before he was pronounced dead on the front. Wanting to know more Marsden takes up a position as tutor to Alice, Simon’s younger sister.
Very quickly Marsden realizes why Simon never spoke about his family. Alice and her twin Beatrice are constantly fighting, Lord Scarborough has a temper, Lady Scarborough is an alcoholic, and the entire staff is in on all the family secrets. The family home is half destroyed by fire and bankruptcy is imminent.
Alison Clare wrote a fantastic period piece/mystery/thriller. The characters were wonderful, I loved the slow unraveling of everyone’s secrets. Really fun read!
Set in 1919, Midnight at Maidenstone Hall follows Marsden Fisher (formerly Thomas Bäuerle) looking for answers on the disappearance of his lover Simon Falconer. Presumed dead by everyone, Marsden knows Simon was last seen at his home, Maidenstone Hall, before he was pronounced dead on the front. Wanting to know more Marsden takes up a position as tutor to Alice, Simon’s younger sister.
Very quickly Marsden realizes why Simon never spoke about his family. Alice and her twin Beatrice are constantly fighting, Lord Scarborough has a temper, Lady Scarborough is an alcoholic, and the entire staff is in on all the family secrets. The family home is half destroyed by fire and bankruptcy is imminent.
Alison Clare wrote a fantastic period piece/mystery/thriller. The characters were wonderful, I loved the slow unraveling of everyone’s secrets. Really fun read!
April 14, 2026
Midnight at Maidenstone Hall by Alison Clare is a gothic historical mystery set in post World War I England, where grief, secrecy, and suspicion linger within the crumbling walls of a Yorkshire estate. The story follows Marsden Fisher, a young man working under an assumed identity as he arrives at Maidenstone Hall to investigate the mysterious death of his lover’s brother.
Clare builds a tense and atmospheric narrative, using the decaying grandeur of the estate and the fractured dynamics of the Scarborough family to reinforce a sense of unease. The presence of feuding twins, financial ruin, and unexplained nocturnal disturbances adds layers of psychological and emotional tension to the central mystery.
Blending gothic tradition with historical fiction and queer themes, the novel leans heavily into mood, secrecy, and identity. It will appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burning, character-focused mysteries with a dark, atmospheric setting and emotionally charged undercurrents.
Clare builds a tense and atmospheric narrative, using the decaying grandeur of the estate and the fractured dynamics of the Scarborough family to reinforce a sense of unease. The presence of feuding twins, financial ruin, and unexplained nocturnal disturbances adds layers of psychological and emotional tension to the central mystery.
Blending gothic tradition with historical fiction and queer themes, the novel leans heavily into mood, secrecy, and identity. It will appeal to readers who enjoy slow-burning, character-focused mysteries with a dark, atmospheric setting and emotionally charged undercurrents.
December 18, 2023
I really liked this, it was what I'd call one of my favourite flavours of historical fiction. It was a mystery set in Yorkshire, in the early 20th century, and I thought it was gorgeously gothic and eerie. I sometimes seem to connect more with historical mysteries more than contemporary ones, particularly if the setting is a manor house, or something similar. I think there is just something about that particular type of setting that makes me want to escape and be there with the characters, and that was what happened here. Once I started reading, I was drawn into the atmosphere and struggled to stop, so I read this in one sitting. If you like ghostly stories in an old-fashioned manor house type setting, you may like this.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
February 4, 2024
4 Stars! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. Even if it is a bit late.
Marsden Fisher was just trying to find out what actually happened to the man he loved and got thrown into a big ol' house full of big ol' secrets.
I will say, I had a theory about Beatrice and Alice but didn't come to the truth until only slightly before Marsden did. Well done on that!
I sped through the last half of the book, the last 20% being fully absorbed and unaware of my surroundings. The plot was interesting, the secrets were really fun to try to guess, and the characters, especially Marsden, were well fleshed out. All in all, a really fun read. The book is knocked down a full point because I feel like the Big Unhappy Part near the end could have been done a little better. Who was holding the gun, who got shot, who was hiding yet another secret. It all got a little bogged down.
Marsden Fisher was just trying to find out what actually happened to the man he loved and got thrown into a big ol' house full of big ol' secrets.
I will say, I had a theory about Beatrice and Alice but didn't come to the truth until only slightly before Marsden did. Well done on that!
I sped through the last half of the book, the last 20% being fully absorbed and unaware of my surroundings. The plot was interesting, the secrets were really fun to try to guess, and the characters, especially Marsden, were well fleshed out. All in all, a really fun read. The book is knocked down a full point because I feel like the Big Unhappy Part near the end could have been done a little better. Who was holding the gun, who got shot, who was hiding yet another secret. It all got a little bogged down.
December 6, 2023
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I had a fun time with the story as a whole, but I did have some issues. I wish that the supernatural elements were heightened -- I really could not tell if there was actually supernatural stuff going on from the way it was written, although I think we were supposed to view things as supernatural. Additionally, I felt extremely weird about the mental illness stuff going on -- I'm almost certain that the disorder that is given did not exist as a diagnosis in 1919. (Not to mention that it's a disorder that is almost exclusively used for shock value in fiction, which it kinda was doing here too.) I also feel like the ending was too tidy, but that's just my preference.
All in all, I had a fun enough time reading, although I'm not sure whether or not I'd recommend it.
I had a fun time with the story as a whole, but I did have some issues. I wish that the supernatural elements were heightened -- I really could not tell if there was actually supernatural stuff going on from the way it was written, although I think we were supposed to view things as supernatural. Additionally, I felt extremely weird about the mental illness stuff going on -- I'm almost certain that the disorder that is given did not exist as a diagnosis in 1919. (Not to mention that it's a disorder that is almost exclusively used for shock value in fiction, which it kinda was doing here too.) I also feel like the ending was too tidy, but that's just my preference.
All in all, I had a fun enough time reading, although I'm not sure whether or not I'd recommend it.
December 23, 2023
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for a fair and honest review.*
The story of a young man taking a job as a tutor at a mansion full of batshit crazy people. Under an assumed name, Marsden attempts to find the truth of what really happened to his deceased lover, the son of the hall's owners. I enjoyed this one, although it does have a few issues in the editing. Typos are frequent, but the one that really irritated me was the name of the hall's mistress. The author named her "Francis", which is the male version of the name. The name for a woman is spelled "Frances". How do I know this? It's my name. Very irritating. And what was with the lights flickering at midnight? That one was never explained. But overall a decent read. Recommended.
The story of a young man taking a job as a tutor at a mansion full of batshit crazy people. Under an assumed name, Marsden attempts to find the truth of what really happened to his deceased lover, the son of the hall's owners. I enjoyed this one, although it does have a few issues in the editing. Typos are frequent, but the one that really irritated me was the name of the hall's mistress. The author named her "Francis", which is the male version of the name. The name for a woman is spelled "Frances". How do I know this? It's my name. Very irritating. And what was with the lights flickering at midnight? That one was never explained. But overall a decent read. Recommended.
January 17, 2024
Special thanks to Level Best Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If I'm honest I'm disappointed that I ended up rating this book as low as I did. The first half of this novel was so engaging (despite the many typos and desperate need for editing).
Overall this book's twist was not my favorite, I had guessed the "twist" but it fell flat. I wish there had been more added to the main character's sexuality.
I was not a fan of the ending and wished it had been more mysterious (and clearly the author can write that type of book since that is what the first 50% consisted of).
I'm kind of disappointed, but only because the first half was absolutely amazing.
If I'm honest I'm disappointed that I ended up rating this book as low as I did. The first half of this novel was so engaging (despite the many typos and desperate need for editing).
Overall this book's twist was not my favorite, I had guessed the "twist" but it fell flat. I wish there had been more added to the main character's sexuality.
I was not a fan of the ending and wished it had been more mysterious (and clearly the author can write that type of book since that is what the first 50% consisted of).
I'm kind of disappointed, but only because the first half was absolutely amazing.
January 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for a review!
Torn between a 3 or 4 star rating.
There's so many aspects of this book that I really liked (especially the writing and the atmosphere were incredibly good and nice to read). At the same time there are some aspects that I just couldn't look past. Namely the character of the lost brother is someone whose characterisation I would've liked to be seen more fleshed out and not just an accumulation of the worst person possible.
Furthermore the main character's ending just felt... off? Without wanting to spoil, I understood the logical reasoning to the decision but what the characters' true feelings about it were was simply missing and something that I really would have liked to see.
Torn between a 3 or 4 star rating.
There's so many aspects of this book that I really liked (especially the writing and the atmosphere were incredibly good and nice to read). At the same time there are some aspects that I just couldn't look past. Namely the character of the lost brother is someone whose characterisation I would've liked to be seen more fleshed out and not just an accumulation of the worst person possible.
Furthermore the main character's ending just felt... off? Without wanting to spoil, I understood the logical reasoning to the decision but what the characters' true feelings about it were was simply missing and something that I really would have liked to see.
January 17, 2024
Special thanks to Level Best Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
If I'm honest I'm disappointed that I ended up rating this book as low as I did. The first half of this novel was so engaging (despite the many typos and desperate need for editing).
Overall this book's twist was not my favorite, I had guessed the "twist" but it fell flat. I wish there had been more added to the main character's sexuality.
I did not like the ending. I'm not a fan of the "relationship" and I really wish that it had not tied everything up the way it did.
I'm disappointed, but only because the first half was absolutely amazing
If I'm honest I'm disappointed that I ended up rating this book as low as I did. The first half of this novel was so engaging (despite the many typos and desperate need for editing).
Overall this book's twist was not my favorite, I had guessed the "twist" but it fell flat. I wish there had been more added to the main character's sexuality.
I did not like the ending. I'm not a fan of the "relationship" and I really wish that it had not tied everything up the way it did.
I'm disappointed, but only because the first half was absolutely amazing
June 3, 2025
I think I liked this, but I can't really be sure. While I did enjoy the twist and think it was well foreshadowed, I think the MC's not figuring it out before he did to be unbelievable. There was a lot of strange back and forth, and the queerness included was more back story flavor than anything else, and not really addressed in the "happy ending." But I did find the characters to be endearing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Level Best Books for the advanced copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Level Best Books for the advanced copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
December 26, 2023
So it was interesting, I figured out the twist very early on, and then some of the other twists were not necessary, but it was well written and there were more than just the obvious twists so the book was very readable and I continued to read even when I knew was the twist early on it was still a good read to the end.
January 10, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
The setting was nice, the era was nice, there is a bit of supernatural, I thought I had guessed one twist at a moment, but I was proven wrong - which is good. I thought I would enjoy this book but it lacked something, maybe because it was a first novel.
Some details left me unsatisfied that are hard to pinpoint without spoiling anything, so I won't.
I guess what remains after I finished reading it a few days ago is that some parts were too much - including one impossible to believe at the end.
However, as I said, I liked the setting, there were interesting elements and it was a first novel. The author might get better.
The setting was nice, the era was nice, there is a bit of supernatural, I thought I had guessed one twist at a moment, but I was proven wrong - which is good. I thought I would enjoy this book but it lacked something, maybe because it was a first novel.
Some details left me unsatisfied that are hard to pinpoint without spoiling anything, so I won't.
I guess what remains after I finished reading it a few days ago is that some parts were too much - including one impossible to believe at the end.
However, as I said, I liked the setting, there were interesting elements and it was a first novel. The author might get better.
January 15, 2024
This was a great book. I think what drew me in was the historical aspect & the mystery! Sometimes the main character annoyed me but i really enjoyed reading this 🫶🏻
Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc
Thank you so much NetGalley for this arc
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