I’m delighted to be part of the celebrations of ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ by Luccia Gray in association with Brook Cottage Books. As well as my review of this gripping book, you’ll find a giveaway open internationally to win a paperback copy of ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ at the bottom of this blog post. ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ is available here in the UK and here in the US.

‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ is the second in the Eyre Hall trilogy by Luccia Gray. I thoroughly enjoyed the first, ‘All Hallows at Eyre Hall’, and you can read my review here. I didn’t hesitate when I was offered the chance to read and review the second book.

About ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’

Following Edward Rochester’s death in All Hallows at Eyre Hall, Jane Eyre, who has been blackmailed into marrying a man she despises, will have to cope with the return of the man she loved and lost. The secrets she has tried so hard to conceal must be disclosed, giving rise to unexpected events and more shocking revelations.

Romance, mystery, and excitement will unfold exploring the evolution of the original characters, and bringing to life new and intriguing ones, spinning a unique and absorbing narrative, which will move the action from the Yorkshire countryside, to Victorian London, and across the Atlantic Ocean to Colonial Jamaica.

My Review

Although I’m glad I have read Charlotte Bronte’s ‘Jane Eyre’ and Luccia Gray’s ‘All Hallows at Eyre Hall’ because I think they have added layers of appreciation I might otherwise have missed, ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ can be enjoyed perfectly well as a stand alone read. There is everything a reader could want in a thoroughly exciting and fast paced plot. Love, murder, mystery, violence, sexual exploitation all feature, but never gratuitously so that there is a compelling reality to the text. ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ is a cracking read and I was gripped from the beginning.

Now a wealthy woman in her forties married to vile Mr Mason, Jane has another love, the much younger, and her previous servant, Michael Kirkpatrick. Life is complicated and Luccia Gray weaves the story around these two main characters highly skilfully. I loved the touches that added credibility and depth to the era such as Jane’s friendship with Charles Dickens. Descriptions of both the richness of grand houses and the poverty of London’s back streets create a very visual enjoyment too. Luccia Gray’s writing could be so easily adapted for film or television.

The various first person voices are all totally distinct so that I felt like I was catching up with old friends as I read. I can’t wait for the third book in the trilogy to be published and again, although ‘Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall’ is crafted with a hugely satisfying ending, there is potential for an incredible finale to the trilogy. Brilliant.

About the author

Luccia Gray was born in London and now lives in the south of Spain with her husband. She has three children and three grandchildren. When she’s not reading or writing, she teaches English at an Adult Education Centre and at the Spanish National University.

If you’d like to find out more about Luccia Gray and this wonderful series, here are the author links you need:

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 Giveaway 

Win a paperback copy of Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall by clicking here.