12 Days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep

Do you love to read mysteries? Well, here is a current mystery book that you should check out! Michelle Griep has started a new series called Once Upon a Dickens Christmas, and her first book, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, just released. 

From the Back Cover:
A mysterious invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home may bring danger...and love? 

England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds.

But is she walking into danger? it appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests--her former fiance, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he's given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it--and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters.

What matters most is what Christmas is all about...love.

My Thoughts:
 Since this was the first book I had read by Michelle Griep, I did not have any kind of expectations. After the first chapter of this book, I was hooked. I love a good mystery, and this one reminded me of when I read my first Agatha Christie book in high school. The story has that element of old, spooky house with a crazy cast of characters who are all vying for a prize of some sort. The beginning of the story only told parts and pieces of the real backstory of the main character, Clara Chapman. The lack of information really pushes the reader to read on trying to figure out what has happened. The plight of the main character draws on your emotions and causes you to inwardly hope for the character to have something turn in her favor.  The author has done a fabulous job drawing in the reader and providing some great enjoyable reading. So if you're looking for a fun new series to start especially one about Christmas, check out Michelle's newest series, Once Upon a Dickens Christmas!
Look for book 2 in the Once Upon a Dickens Christmas series, A Tale of Two Hearts, coming Fall of 2018.

My Rating: ★★★★★

*** I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.