THE TREASURE
Set in a fictional medieval land
For two hundred years, villagers have fought over a legendary treasure but when
they find it, it’s not what they expect.
BROKEN
The story of a woman and a horse – both broken.
Hello, and welcome.
I’m Mrs Preston, the cook at Thornton Park from the cosy mystery series, The Thornton Mysteries by Ellen Read.
It’s 1927, in Australia, in case you’re wondering.
I might not be one of those fancy chefs, but I’m proud of my culinary achievements, as any chef in a restaurant would be. After all, I manage the menus and the kitchen staff to perfection. Even though I discuss the family menus with Miss Alexandra, who is mistress of the house. Thornton Park is a lavish mansion, with house servants and outside staff who work in the gardens. I only cook meals for the inside staff. The home farm is managed by the Parry family; the Brady family look after the grounds, and live in the gate-house.
The kitchen is a good size for a large household. I have help in the kitchen, of course. A kitchen maid, Sylvie, who is my daughter—her father and my husband, Mr Preston, is the butler. He’s only ever called Preston. Then there’s Dot Brady who is the scullery maid. She’s a good girl. She’s only sixteen, and always thinking of something else. Off with the fairies, I reckon. Of course, the job of a scullery maid is a hard one. She has to wash and dry all the dishes from the family dining room and the servants’ dining room. The family use crystal glasses, silver cutlery and fine bone China crockery, so the utmost care has to be taken. Dot is not as careful as I’d like. She frays my nerves with worry sometimes. One day she’s going to break some Royal Albert.
We start with breakfast for the staff, and then after that the family—they have breakfast in the morning room. After that is morning tea, luncheon, which is served on the wide veranda, weather permitting, and then afternoon tea, and dinner.
Now, can you imagine the extra work when the family entertain! I’m not really grumbling. After all, I can try new dishes, and it’s an achievement cooking for twenty or more people. Not that they entertain a lot since Mrs Thornton passed away, but now Miss Alexandra is a young woman, I’m sure there will be more parties held. Young Mr Benedict Archer has been invited to dine. We, in the servants’ hall, all think he’s keen on Miss Alexandra. Not much escapes Preston. As butler, he gets to see it all.
In many cases, I serve the same dishes in the servants’ dining room, as the family have, albeit after the family has finished their meals. However, we have less refined tastes, and don’t enjoy hor d’oeuvres and other fancy things. We’d much prefer a hearty Beef and Barley Soup, or a Cottage Pie or Roast Beef with gravy and dumplings.
After dinner, coffee is served in the drawing room with a selection of cheeses. The men, in particular, enjoy brandy at this time. The ladies usually prefer port or liquor.
By the time we reach the end of the day, we’re all tired, exhausted you might say. Glad to go to our beds. The staff wing is above the kitchen. I have to give credit to the first Thomas Thornton, who built the house. He certainly didn’t stint on the size of rooms for the staff.
Well, cheerio for now. I’ll have a chin-wag again with you soon. I might share some of my recipes.
‘There will always be Stardust in my eyes when I look at you, my love.’ by Ellen Read
Cosy mystery series set in Australia in the late 1920s.
Two timelines, one story. Gold, family secrets and an astrolabe bring them together across the years.
2023 When Danielle Roberts inherits a boarding house in Charters Towers, her first thought is that it’s a scam. Assured by the solicitor it isn’t, she decides to make a quick trip and sort everything out. She has no intention of staying. A pastry chef, she owns a café in Redcliffe.
The first person she sees when she arrives, is the last person she wants to see.
Brett Bainbridge, her first boyfriend, broke her heart when he walked out on her.
Now, here he is, standing in her garden bed.
1872 Eloise le Gerseul has travelled from Jersey in the Channel Islands to Australia with her father and sister. Gold brought them to Charters Towers where Eloise meets William Hatton, the wealthiest goldminer in the north. Then her father dies and Eloise is left with her sister, Emily.
Soon after her wedding to William, life takes a strange turn for Eloise. Her dear Bill goes away on business and Eloise waits and waits for his return. She worries that he’s had an accident. When he arrives home, he won’t speak to her. Eloise doesn’t understand what has happened.
Eventually, Eloise realises that she’s dead.
The Ghost Rider has been awarded a Silver Medal for Supernatural Historical Fiction
The Feathered Nest has been awarded a Bronze Medal for Historical Romance.
Thank you so much to The Coffee Pot Book Club
What happened to Edward Wallingford? His great-great nephew William is determined to find out.
England 1935.
Edward Wallingford, an artist, is on a solitary walking tour of the West Country. To recuperate from pneumonia, he wants to walk, paint and enjoy the countryside. When he stops at Claeg, a village in Dorset, he visits Marston Castle on the outskirts of the town. He becomes fascinated by Rose Marston who, with her two sisters, owns and lives in their family’s castle.
England Present Day.
William Wallingford has always heard tales of his great-great uncle Edward who disappeared on his walking tour in 1935. When Will’s mother discovers a letter written in Edward’s hand telling his family that he was in Claeg and intended staying at the castle, both Will and his mother are intrigued.
William, a professional photographer, has some free time between assignments, and determines to discover what happened to Uncle Edward. Why, when he went missing, could no one find any trace of him?
Will travels to Claeg and stays at the Clay Cutters Arms where he meets the owners, Natalie Pickering and her father.
Will soon hears local rumours that young men visiting Claeg disappear from time to time.
With Natalie’s help, Will meets a local witch, uncovers an unbelievable truth and nearly dies for love.
The Feathered Nest by Ellen Read
I was thrilled to receive a Gold Book Award from Literary Titan for The Feathered Nest.
When I received a 5 Star review, I was so happy but I had forgotten my book was entered into the Book Awards. So it came as a surprise to be told I’d been awarded the Gold Book Award.
Literary Titan’s 5 STAR review is below:
Alexandra Thornton goes on an expedition with her family to Norfolk Island to research the island’s birds with a particular focus on the green parrot. Little does she know what she has walked into, a web of a puzzling mystery that has to be unraveled before it threatens her.
The Feathered Nest by Ellen Read gives readers a captivating look into the mystery of Norfolk Island and its inhabitants. The story gains momentum as an intriguing chain of events unfold which endangers members of the expedition. As the story progresses readers get to unveil the motive behind the multitudes of murders.
Ellen Read is the quintessential historical mystery romance author who effortlessly blends elements of novelistic fiction with curious bits of history. The author creates characters with surprising depth and realistic emotions, which reminds me of how Agatha Christie creates her characters. Moreover, Ellen has strategically placed humor, wit, and alluring intimacy to mitigate the simmering tension of the reader. Readers will find themselves yearning to turn the page to decipher the fate of the characters. By the end of the novel, all the dilemmas that pique the reader are seamlessly resolved.
The Feathered Nest by Ellen Read is a cozy mystery novel that has a similar atmosphere as one of a period drama. With its descriptive prose, it delivers outstanding soulfulness with unmatched intricacy. Holistically, this mystery thriller prescribes hints throughout but is better comprehended as all the elements gradually fit into place. Overall, this book would appeal to readers that seek a compelling mystery with a touch of tender romance.
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers’ Favorite
“Tis said, that some have died for love.” – William Wordsworth. Die for Love: A Ghost Story is a mystery by Ellen Read. In England in 1935, while recuperating, artist Edward Wallingford feels inspired to sketch Marston Castle despite warnings about its haunting history. He meets the beguiling Rose Marston who coaxes him to stay at the castle because they were meant to be together. England, presentday, William is curious to learn the circumstances surrounding his great-great-uncle Edward’s disappearance. He travels to Claeg, Dorset, where his uncle was last seen. Natalie, the innkeeper, also warns William not to go to Marston Castle, which he ignores. While touring the castle, William meets a lovely woman named Rose who invites him to stay with her. Natalie has her suspicions when William behaves oddly and takes him to see a witch.
“His love was such a grievous pain.” – William Wordsworth. Edward and his great-great-nephew William were befuddled after being smitten by the beauty of a Marston woman. William Wordsworth’s poetry is a significant feature throughout this story. If you’re a fan of Edgar Allen Poe like myself, you will be thrilled with the engrossing dark mystery theme of Die for Love. It’s a suspenseful, touching story with a lovely setting in the rural English countryside. Ellen Read has also included excerpts from her other books at the back of Die for Love: A Ghost Story and the information on how this story originated. I really like the book’s cover illustration and highly recommend the novel for your reading pleasure.
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/die-for-love
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