Published April 23rd, 2026 by Orenda Books
Gothic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance Novel
********
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Penniless and newly orphaned Briar Monroe finds shelter at Thornby Manor, a brooding estate above a mist-shrouded lake. But whispers of a dead wife, an estranged son and locked-away secrets haunt its corridors … Atmospheric, intoxicating and laced with peril – a spellbinding historical mystery of love, betrayal, obsession and a house that will not forget…
–––––––––
There – suddenly – was Thornby Manor.
I would never forget the first time I saw it…
A talisman of darkness, an emblem of death.
Warwickshire, 1891. Recently orphaned and left destitute, Briar Monroe accepts the protection of Lord Danville and the shadowed sanctuary of Thornby Manor. The great house looms above a mist-shrouded lake, its corridors heavy with secrets – not least the mysterious death of Lady Elizabeth Danville, and the unspoken tensions between her formidable widower and his magnetic son, Gabriel.
As Briar navigates the undercurrents of a household ruled by watchful servants and locked doors, she is drawn ever deeper into a web of suspicion, desire and fear. Whispers in the night, figures at windows, and a constant sense of being watched leave her questioning not only the truth about Thornby, but her own safety within its walls.
Atmospheric, intoxicating and laced with peril, Thornby Manor is a gothic tale of betrayal, obsession and a house that never forgets.
A simmering, haunting debut for readers who loved Jane Eyre, Rebecca, The Woman in White and The Silent Companions.
********
MY REVIEW:
1891. After the death of her parents, Briar Monore finds herself homeless and penniless. She accepts the protection of Lord Danville and takes shelter at Thornby Manor, his brooding Warwickshire estate above a mist-shrouded lake. But Briar soon learns that all is not what it seems at Thornby and it is haunted by whispers of a dead wife, estranged son, madness and long-buried secrets. As floorboards creek, windowpanes rattle, figures appear at windows and things go bump in the night, Briar finds herself fearing for her safety.
Darkly atmospheric, menacing and unsettling. Thornby Manor is a gorgeous Gothic debut perfect for this time of year. A tale of grief, madness, mystery, secrets and suspicion, this is one you need to read by a warm fire with a light on. Skillfully and evocatively written, Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes showcases as a new star in Gothic Victoriana with this spellbinding tale. It’s Gothic fiction at its finest; oozing menace as a sense of unease permeates every page. Stephanie had me in her thrall and I devoured the book quickly.
I love morally grey characters and this book is filled with them. Even protagonist Briar is someone we can’t be sure we can trust as she alludes to a secret from the start. But she is a great character. Likeable, determined and with a strong sense of justice, she was easy to root for at every step, even if I was intrigued by what she was hiding. Lord Danville on the other hand felt untrustworthy from the start and I had my suspicions about what happened to his wife.
Thornby Manor also feels like a character in its own right thanks to the vivid descriptions of the house and its strange occurrences. What was really going on? Were there ghosts haunting its halls? It was so unsettling and the mystery only seemed to deepen as we learned more. I had so many questions and was on the edge of my seat as I waited for answers.
A dark, dramatic and disturbing gothic debut, this is perfect for reading on a dark night.
Rating: ✮✮✮✮.5
Thank you to Orenda for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
********
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Stephanie Bramwell-Lawes grew up in the historic city of Bath and studied History and Ancient History at Exeter University. A lifelong love of literature led to a career in publishing in 2009, and her passion for books has only continued to grow ever since. Her favourite novels include Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Rebecca, and anything by Tracy Chevalier. She currently lives in Warwickshire with her husband and a small feline dictator named Ruby. Thornby Manor is her debut novel.
********
Thanks for reading, Bibliophiles xxxx
