I Cracked the Abberley Estate Mystery in No Time, and Had a Blast Doing It!

Hey there, fellow readers!

I stumbled upon "The Mystery of Hill House" by Kate Lattimer last year after seeing it recommended by all the book blogs and roundups for fans of classic English detective novels and Downton Abbey-esque films. I'm so glad I did!

The Mystery of Hill House, Kate Lattimer

Where I bought it: OzonPrice: 767 rub

The Mystery of Hill House, Kate LattimerNo spoilers here, just my thoughts on reading it

The book itself is a thick one with great paper and clear font. I'm getting ahead of myself, but the second book in the series had issues with this. The paper quality and font size are impressive, making it a pleasure to read.

The frontispiece is actually pretty cool - it's a detailed map of the estate, but I did have some questions about the second floor and the rooms marked with numbers. I found myself studying the map, trying to piece together the layout and hidden passages.

The Mystery of Hill House, Kate Lattimer The epigraph is a nod to Diana Setterfield's most famous book - The Thirteenth Tale. By the end, you'll see why it was chosen, and it has a few layers to it. I appreciated the subtle connections between the epigraph and the story.

The Mystery of Hill House, Kate LattimerOfficial blurb:

A classic English country house mystery in the style of Agatha Christie, Kate Morton, and Downton Abbey.

England, 1958. The mistress of Hill House, renowned author Clementine Ventworth, vanishes under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind no clues, no evidence, just whispers of a family curse.

1964 was a pivotal year for me, as I delved into the world of the Adderley estate. Working in the library, I stumbled upon a mysterious letter from Lady Clementine hidden within the pages of an old book. Intrigued, I decided to embark on my own investigation, despite everyone doubting my ability to crack the case. What had happened to Lady Clementine? Who were the children brought to Adderley twenty years ago? And was the ghost of the woman in black truly a harbinger of the past, returning centuries later?

The Mystery of Adderley, Kate Lathimer The story unfolds in the autumn of 1964, within the walls of the ancient Adderley estate, home to the esteemed aristocratic family. I was introduced to the protagonist, Iris Birn, a fresh Oxford graduate, who had arrived at Adderley to work in her field of expertise. Iris was intelligent, level-headed, and rational - a true standout in a world where 'simple' girls from her background rarely had the opportunity to attend Oxford. As a result, she was treated with a mix of respect and wariness by the estate's inhabitants.I appreciate Iris's refreshing lack of 'heroic' tendencies. She's afraid, has a healthy sense of self-preservation, and doesn't take unnecessary risks. She doesn't try to be something she's not or pretend to be a detective. She simply does what she's good at and thinks things through.

As I got to know the complex Sittow-Ventworth family, I couldn't help but wonder about the disappearance of Lady Clementine, the estate's matriarch, six years prior. Her two sons, David and Rupert, were left with more questions than answers - one being the son and heir, and the other adopted during the war. The more I learned, the more I realized that this family's decision to adopt and not reveal the truth was far from straightforward.

The question that kept nagging me was: why would a family like this, with a natural heir, choose to adopt a child and keep it a secret? It wasn't just a matter of taking in a war orphan and giving them a name. There had to be more to it.

The mystery of Adderley began to unravel, and with it, the complicated issue of maternal love. We often assume it's a natural and unconditional force, but what if it's not? What if it never develops or never takes center stage? The truth about Lady Clementine would change everything.

The Abberley Mystery, Kate LathimerI was swept away by the author's gentle, engaging writing style from the very first pages. The story's complexity and depth kept me hooked, with cleverly woven elements from both the past and present. I've read some reviews complaining about the book's slow pace, but for me, that's exactly what I love about it – the unhurried, thoughtful approach to storytelling. It's never dull, quite the opposite!Even when it seemed like the plot was stalled, the book didn't feel dragged out. Events, questions, and mysteries layered upon each other, keeping me invested until the very end.

The writing is beautifully understated, with a delicate touch that never feels forced or artificial. There's no hint of modernity or anachronism, just a classic, old-school detective story that feels authentic and true to its genre. No gratuitous violence, slang, or colloquialisms mar the narrative.

And yet, despite my initial assumption that it was a translation, I found myself completely absorbed in The Abberley Mystery.

Kate Lathimer is a pen name for a Russian-language author

The Abberley Mystery, Kate LathimerAs I read on, I started to piece together the identity of the culprit and the underlying mystery of the family's past. But it wasn't until the very end that the author revealed the motive, method, and meaning behind the events. And even then, I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it – the twists and turns kept me on my toes until the very last page.

Number of pages: 512

The book is a manageable size, and I enjoyed savoring it over several cozy evenings by the Christmas tree. The conclusion ties up loose ends, but not without leaving some threads open to be picked up in a potential sequel. The ending felt a bit rushed, perhaps because the author had already planned for a follow-up book. Nevertheless, the main mystery and family saga are resolved.

The Secret of Abberley by Kate LathemI really loved the atmosphere, writing style, and plot of The Secret of Abberley. It was one of my favorite books to read over the holidays, and it's definitely a keeper:

My Winter Reads - Favorites and New DiscoveriesAs a cozy mystery, it's a great start for a debut author. I think it would make for a pretty interesting movie, but maybe not one I'd want to see in theaters.

I was excited to see that Kate Lathem released her second book, The Sheldorf Book, just a few months after the events of The Secret of Abberley. It continues the story of Iris Birn and her family, and I'm looking forward to reading it.

Thanks for reading my review!