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The Women of Heachley Hall

Rachel Walkley (Goodreads Author)

4.12 · Rating details · 883 ratings · 54 reviews

Miriam has one year to uncover Heachley Hall's unimaginable past and a secret that only women can discover.

The life of a freelance illustrator will never rake in the millions so when twenty-eight year old Miriam discovers she’s the sole surviving heir to her great-aunt’s fortune, she can’t believe her luck. She dreams of selling her poky city flat and buying a studio.
But g ...more

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Kindle Edition, 330 pages

Published May 4th 2018 by Spare Time Press

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· 883 ratings · 54 reviews

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Apr 14, 2019 Teresa rated it liked it

The blurb for this novel is what drew me to this book. I enjoyed it overall. It's very atmospheric and the 'creepy' elements are done well. I guessed what the secret was quite early on. I never really took to Miriam. I don't know why.
This book could have been half the length it was and be a brilliant read. The middle of the story dragged for me and parts of it were repetitive.
However, it's still a very good read for a debut. ...more

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May 17, 2018 booksofallkinds rated it really liked it

THE WOMEN OF HEACHLEY HALL by Rachel Walkley is a compelling and fascinating story brimming with mystery, romance, and that extra little something that I can't put my finger on which makes it a special read.

Miriam has stood on her own two feet ever since her Mum died and she doesn't know too much about her family history, but that is all set to change when she inherits Heachley Hall from her Great-Aunt Felicity. But this inheritance comes with one strict condition - that Miriam must live in the ...more

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Jun 12, 2018 J.B (Debbie) rated it it was amazing

I am a total sucker when it comes to books about old houses and family secrets. I love this sort of story so was very excited to get the opportunity to read and review The Women of Heachley Hall.

When Miriam inherits an old mansion house from an aunt she barely remembers, the will stipulates that she must live in it for a year and a day before it fully becomes hers and she can sell it. So, Miriam relocates her entire life to the cold old house which is in desperate need of repair. Her memories o I am a total sucker when it comes to books about old houses and family secrets. I love this sort of story so was very excited to get the opportunity to read and review The Women of Heachley Hall.

When Miriam inherits an old mansion house from an aunt she barely remembers, the will stipulates that she must live in it for a year and a day before it fully becomes hers and she can sell it. So, Miriam relocates her entire life to the cold old house which is in desperate need of repair. Her memories of her aunt are sketchy and she tries to piece them together to give her a better sense of who the old woman was and why she left her the house with the ridiculous clause in the will. A handyman who had once worked for her aunt helps her with the repairs and tries to fill in some of the blanks for Miriam but Charles is as mysterious as the house and has his own secrets. Who is he exactly? The house itself is not giving up its secrets easily and the secrets of the past tempt Miriam into digging deeper to find out exactly what went on at Heachley Hall. Fairly soon however, Miriam doesn't feel she is alone in the house.

Love Love Love this book. It had me absolutely gripped from the very beginning. The house held a fascination for me as it did for Miriam. Its swirling mists and surrounding dark woods had my heart thumping in my chest! I love a good mystery and this book had heaps of family secrets to unravel. And as those secrets begin to unravel, Miriam learns just as much about herself as she does about her aunt Felicity and Heachley Hall. At times, Felicity's story is as sad as it is intriguing and Miriam discovers she is more like her aunt that she'd like to admit. And, always in the background is the ever present Charles.

The story is intriguing and at times had me on the edge of my seat. The book is beautifully written and the story tempts the reader with snippets of clues throughout the book. The house itself is almost a breathing entity with its own personality and I loved this about it. A cleverly written plot that drew me in and had me wandering the rooms of Heachley Hall along with Miriam. A story about love, regret and the secrets families keep. Highly recommended.

...more

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Jun 11, 2018 Donna Maguire rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2018-books-read, book-reviews, kindle-read, generic-fiction

https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...

I really enjoyed this book, it was a completely addictive read and I loved it!

The plot was great, just the right amount of detail and it really worked with the characters. They were well developed and believable. The setting worked a treat for the book and I found it all very atmospheric and just perfect for this story.

I was really surprised to find out that this was the author's debut - it is very impressive and certainly doesn't read to someone new to t ...more

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Mar 26, 2018 Olga Miret rated it it was amazing

A Romantic mystery, with a touch of the paranormal, a gothic mansion and wonderful characters. I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (authors, check here if you are looking for reviews) and thank her and the author for the ARC copy of the book, which I freely chose to review.
I love old mansions, old houses, and antiques, and that was one of the things that attracted me to this book, together with the mystery aspect of it. As I’m in the process of moving, and I’m dealing wit A Romantic mystery, with a touch of the paranormal, a gothic mansion and wonderful characters. I write this review as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team (authors, check here if you are looking for reviews) and thank her and the author for the ARC copy of the book, which I freely chose to review.
I love old mansions, old houses, and antiques, and that was one of the things that attracted me to this book, together with the mystery aspect of it. As I’m in the process of moving, and I’m dealing with a house sale, the topic felt timely, and I am pleased I decided to go with my gut feeling.
This book manages to combine quite a few elements that I love in stories. There is a lone female protagonist, Miriam, that has to face challenges (OK, she is not fighting with a sword, but she has to confront difficulties she has never had to deal with before) and she gets to learn plenty about herself in the process. There is an old mansion (there is more than a touch of the gothic novel) that hides mysteries and tragedies of old (there are rumours that it is haunted and… well, I’m trying not to include any spoilers in this review, so I’ll keep my peace). There are family secrets, both Miriam’s and those of previous occupants of the Hall, that Miriam feels compelled to investigate, to fully understand her legacy and her feelings about Heachley Hall. There is a small town with friendly folks (and some not so friendly) that help give the place a genuine feel. The struggles of Miriam to make a living as a self-employed illustrator of children’s stories made me feel particularly connected to the character. I also enjoyed the way her relationship with Ruth, an older woman, a client and now a friend, is portrayed. There is also an element of historical fiction, as later in the book Miriam has access to a document that covers past events in the house (again, I’m trying not to give too much away), and we get to experience the way time transforms the mansion and also see how much society has changed since the XIX century. Ah, and let’s not forget, there is also a very romantic love story. (And a paranormal element…)
Imagine getting stuck, alone, in a huge old house that is falling to bits, with hardly any money to make any renovations or even make it liveable, and having to stay there for one year and one day to receive your inheritance. Although money is initially a big draw for Miriam (she is not in a particularly good place and feels she should show people she can rise to the challenge), she is also intrigued about her aunt Felicity’s reasons for setting up such strange condition. She only remembers having visited her aunt a few times as a very young child, and it makes no sense. Like so many amateur detectives, she is like a dog with a bone and has to keep making enquiries, no matter how many times she seems to have hit a dead end.
I liked Miriam. Although she has suffered tragedy and losses as a young child, she has reached adulthood as a well-balanced individual. She does have insecurities and issues, but she does not allow any drawbacks to bring her down and keeps going. She becomes stronger and more determined as the book progresses, but she does not waste much time feeling sorry for herself (only a little bit). I enjoyed the rest of the female characters as well, and although we only learn about some in the retelling of their stories, the author manages to bring them to live and make us connect emotionally with them.
The story is mostly narrated in the first person by Miriam (apart from the document I mentioned before), and she is excellent at describing, not only people and places (she is an artist after all), but also her own feelings, doubts, and mental processes. Although I know not all readers are keen on first-person narratives, I think the author does an excellent job of creating an engaging and genuine character. She is no superheroine who can do everything as soon as she steps into the property (she gets some help with her project), and she gets distracted, forgets things, gets scared, but does not give up. The story ebbs and flows as the time passes and the mystery aspects kept me reading on, although this is not a fast-paced action novel. The writing is beautifully descriptive without going over the top, and although there are sad moments, there are also light and joyful moments its readers can enjoy.
The mystery aspect of the novel is well integrated into the narrative, and although I had my suspicions about what was going on, the story is beautifully constructed and precious, and it is very satisfying. If you are one of those readers who hate cliff-hangers and always feel that there is some explanation missing and you’d like to know a bit more, you’ll be over the moon when you read this novel.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, which combines so many of my favourite things, and I’d recommend it to people who enjoy gothic stories (it is not scary but it has some eerie moments), who love old mansions, mysteries without blood and guts (no explicit violence), who like to read a romance with a difference (no explicit sex either), and who like to make friends with the characters of a novel and feel at home with them. Although it does remind me of some books (Rebecca, Jane Eyre…) and movies, I don’t want to go into any detail to avoid spoiling the story for you. But do check it out if any of the things I’ve mentioned appeals. It’s a winner. ...more

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May 01, 2018 Up All Night With Books rated it really liked it

The Women of Heachley Hall by Rachel Walkley was a pleasant and delightful journey through one woman’s discovery of herself, her family and their history.

When Miriam is informed she is heir of her great aunt’s mansion, she is excited to sell it and settle into a more comfortable lifestyle. Her plans are intercepted when she finds out the only way she can take ownership of the mansion is to live it in for one year. With little options left, she concedes to the fact that she will be living in the ...more

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Jul 24, 2018 Anna marked it as did-not-finish

Shelves: dual-timeline, read-in-2018

Bored silly by 10%. DNF.

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Apr 02, 2018 Elizabeth Lloyd rated it really liked it

When book illustrator, Miriam Chambers, inherits Great Aunt Felicity’s Victorian mansion in the Norfolk countryside, she discovers it is a poisoned chalice. Either she must live in the run-down cold building for a year and a day or it will be auctioned for charity. Since she is able to work at home she decides to accept the challenge and she employs some local tradesmen to improve the facilities a little. But it is a lonely house set in overgrown woodland and Miriam is grateful when a strange-lo ...more

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Apr 28, 2018 Jenny Reeve rated it it was amazing

Shelves: finished, drama

Her Great Aunt Felicity has left Miriam Heachely Hall. But she has to live in the house for one year and one day before she can sell it and collect her money, that are the terms. There are some brilliant spooky moments in the story, you feel as though you are there with Miriam, you feel her fear! Miriam lives in the run down hall day and night where she hears odd noises and things happen that she is unable to explain….there is the weird dust that appears, where is it coming from and what exactly ...more

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May 20, 2018 Crysti Jane rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc

** Note: I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. **

The first line of the blurb – “Miriam has one year to uncover Heachley Hall's unimaginable past and a secret that only women can discover.” - was the reason I wanted to read this one. I mean, who doesn’t want to know the secrets of an old mansion?

It took me 2 days to get 31% in. Part of this may be because it is written using British terms rather than American terms and I’ll admit that I am not well ver ...more

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May 20, 2020 Michele Zito rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book. The house is almost the main character of this book at one point, but the story behind it with all the people who lived in it is what develops into the up to date past and present.
Cannot really describe the story too much without revealing what happens, so you just have to read for yourselves.
I really would have wanted that this book did not end because I so enjoyed it and could not put it down until the very last page. Excellent first novel Rachel Walkley.
Michele Z ...more

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Nov 24, 2018 Paula Evans rated it it was amazing

Very enjoyable

Easy read. Outcome wasn't what I expected but definitely a good story. I would recommend this novel. Will look out for this author again. ...more

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Jun 14, 2018 Nicola Smith rated it really liked it

I do love a book where a house is central to the story. I always think there's so much that can be uncovered and discovered about its past. So you can see why I was so keen to read The Women of Heachley Hall.

Miriam is a 28 year old illustrator living in Chelmsford. Until, that is, she inherits her late great-aunt Felicity's mansion house, Heachley Hall in Norfolk. Unfortunately, it's in a bit of a state and although it's habitable, it's far from ideal to live in. But live in it Miriam must, for I do love a book where a house is central to the story. I always think there's so much that can be uncovered and discovered about its past. So you can see why I was so keen to read The Women of Heachley Hall.

Miriam is a 28 year old illustrator living in Chelmsford. Until, that is, she inherits her late great-aunt Felicity's mansion house, Heachley Hall in Norfolk. Unfortunately, it's in a bit of a state and although it's habitable, it's far from ideal to live in. But live in it Miriam must, for a year and a day in fact, if she is to fully inherit the place. Why Felicity placed such a demand on her is something that keeps Miriam occupied for much of the novel. What is the significance of a box that she knows Felicity took with her to the care home where she ended her days? And what is it about handyman/gardener, Charles, that both intrigues and puzzles her?

Well, to find all that out you need to read the book because I'm not going to tell you. What I will say is that I found this to be a book of two halves (or maybe three thirds, but you know what I mean). The beginning of the book is a little slow and drawn out. I wanted more to happen than Miriam getting her cupboard doors sanded down (not a euphemism!). I was as frustrated with her lack of progress as she was. There were things happening around the house that hinted at something much more and grrr, I wanted to know what! But then.....well, it took off and started to get really interesting. Secrets started to come to light and the house's history started to unfold. I was intrigued by the little facts that were being revealed and wondering where the story would go next.

I then got to a bit where I actually said out loud, and rather incredulously, "what?!?!?". I could hardly believe the turn events were taking and wasn't sure how I felt about it, but what followed was beautifully written and perfectly executed and more than made up for what I felt was quite a lot of scene setting in the early parts of the story. I think it was quite a gamble writing something so unusual but the author pulls it off really well and I found myself smiling and rooting for the characters so much in that last third.

The Women of Heachley Hall is a lovely, mysterious tale of a woman, a house, long forgotten events and one major wowser moment!
...more

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May 06, 2018 Renee rated it it was amazing

This is a fantastic debut book. The characters are easy to fall in love with, the descriptions to details were done nicely and so easy to visualize and the dialogue flowed so well with these characters to make you feel as if you are a part of the conversation

This author knows how to write deep, rich, and colorful characters that are easy to relate to and fall in love with. Her story flows smoothly and has enough twists to keep you guessing. It has an interesting blend of suspense, action, and da ...more

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May 04, 2018 Tanya rated it it was amazing

she cant believe her luck when she inherits the hall. there is a condition she has to stay in it for a year and a day. the hall is in disrepair and there is a mystery there she must solve. see if she can solve it

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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May 05, 2018 Karen rated it really liked it

This book is intriguing and interesting paranormal romance. The character inherited a mansion that she wants to find what happened there. I liked reading this book.

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Apr 30, 2018 Molly rated it really liked it

Recommends it for: paranormal mystery/ romance fans

Recommended to Molly by: Booksprout

a haunting story of love and redemption.

what mysteries lies within and behind the walls a no longer quite so young woman inherits from her Aunt?

enticing paranormal thriller / romance.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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Sep 30, 2019 Audrey rated it it was amazing

I wanted to give this 10 stars, I absolutely loved it. I don’t do spoilers so all I will say is buy this book. Highly recommended! So wish there was a follow up book !

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Mar 21, 2019 Ann D rated it really liked it

This was a very enigmatic and intriguing read about Miriam who inherits a derelict mansion from her great aunt, and her quest to discover more about her relative and the terms under which the house has been left to her. Although I enjoyed the book, I was disappointed with the number of grammatical, spelling and proof-reading errors littered throughout, which is unusual in a published novel.

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Oct 25, 2018 sally whitfield rated it liked it

Farfetched but enjoyable

This wasn't what I was expecting a bit daft but netherless an easy enjoyable story. It is only fiction after all! ...more

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Apr 14, 2019 Joanne Lidford rated it liked it

Was really enjoying this until the “big reveal”, when it became too silly for words. Very disappointing.

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Jun 28, 2020 Mary Spicer rated it it was amazing

A fabulous read with wonderful characters

If you are looking for a good read with wonderful characters with an unusual outcome then this book for you.

Miriam has inherited a mansion from a long forgotten aunt but with a stipulation of staying for a year and a day. If she does not then she wavers the inheritance. No problem there you say, but the house is in disrepair, she must actually live in the house and work from there as if she already owns it. The heating doesn't work, there is no proper ki ...more

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May 05, 2020 June Churchill rated it it was amazing

It's difficult to review this without giving away the story. It's not the sort of book I usually read but I was gripped after a few pages. Basically the main character is left a mansion by her great aunt, whom she's only met a few times in her childhood. The stipulation to her inheritance is that Miriam has to live in the house for a year and a day before she sells it. Why? She researches the history of the house and makes some strange discoveries.
I really enjoyed the book but the author needs t ...more

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Dec 30, 2018 Angela Sandford rated it really liked it

I always enjoys books that have location settings near to where I live, coupled with a big house, it was my kind of story!
The story focussed on Charles, and the women that inhabited Heachley Hall. The last woman to take over Heachley Hall, was Miriam, a children’s illustrator, who inherited the Hall from her great Aunt. The Hall needs considerable work doing to it, and Charles helps Miriam to do up the property with a view to selling.
There are strict stipulations regarding Miriam’s inheritance. ...more

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Jun 07, 2019 Teddi rated it liked it

An engaging story but I had already guessed the twist.
I docked stars for 2 things. First, Miriam really annoyed me. She has inherited this derelict house yet she never does a single bit of work to improve it other than buying a few sticks of furniture. She never offers to help or to learn. She just comes across as entitled. What really pissed me off was when she started going thru Charles' things - I almost stopped reading at that point.
And I agree with other reviewers - there were quite a numbe ...more

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Aug 04, 2018 Marian rated it it was amazing

Hooked from the first sentence. Always something to keep you wanting to turn the next page. This book has all the emotions which keep the reader spellbound to the end without giving the plot away too early. Great holiday read.
Knowing the area which the book is set in makes you feel part of the fabric of Heachley Hall - fly on the wall. Could make the reader want to trace their family tree - see what lurks in the old photo albums.

When is the next one available?

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Jun 28, 2019 Pauline Winter rated it it was amazing

A really good story

A really good story that kept me wanting to read on. The characters were believable and interesting. The description of the house and garden, everything, I could really picture it all, lovely description. How the story unfolds is such a surprise. Write more please Rachel!

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Aug 17, 2019 Ashleigh Fay rated it really liked it

Like so many of the other comments, I can’t quite put my finger on what makes this book a little treasure. It’s not sophisticated in its writing, the story twist is borderline foolish... BUT in the end I wouldn’t change it! I so enjoyed this story, a real tender little feel good book that is perfect for easy reading!

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Apr 23, 2020 Pam Wilson rated it it was amazing

Loved this book!!!!!

I really, really enjoyed this book. It was one of those books that I didn't want to put down, I couldn't wait to finish it to find out the secret, but I didn't want the story to end. All in all a very entertaining, book now I'm going to find others by this author. ...more

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Jun 13, 2020 Hayley rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was a bit of a slow burner initially and the big twist was perhaps a little too fantastical but nevertheless this was a very different and unusual read. I enjoyed the slow unravelling of the events of the past and the characters seemed flawed and genuine. Unfortunate that so many typos and grammatical errors had been overlooked and it was a little description-heavy in the beginning.

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About Rachel Walkley

Rachel Walkley

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Born in the Midlands, I grew up in East Anglia and am now firmly lodged in the North West of England. My first writing achievement was my Brownie badge and after that I've never let go of the dream of becoming of an author. Once a librarian and caretaker of books, I'm now a teller of tales and want to share with you the secrets that hide in the pages of my books.
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