The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall

Last weekend, Syrie James released her new Gothic novel, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall. This is the first in her series, The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire. Blending suspense with a love story, this novel follows Diana Taylor as she begins working as governess for fifteen-year-old Emma… and investigates the circumstances around Emma’s father’s recent death. Could the handsome new master of Pendowar Hall, Captain Fallbrook, have played a part? Or did the late Sir Thomas have other enemies?

Why I Chose This Book:

Gothic suspense and romance with inspiration from Jane Eyre? Yes, please! The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall offers many of my favorite themes and genre tropes, all wrapped up in one shiny bow. As soon as I heard about this book from Laurel Ann Nattress, I was I excited to read it (and the rest of the series).

What I Liked:

• Numerous allusions to Jane Eyre. From the way Diana Taylor meets Captain Fallbrook to their fireside chat, from her being a governess to him being a broody and well-traveled man, there are several scenic and thematic nods to Charlotte Brontë’s novel. Moreover, the characters themselves frequently talk about their love of Jane Eyre (then published under the name Currer Bell). I loved all of this!
• Curses, mermaids, and mysterious nighttime activities
• Creepy dreams
• Attempts on Diana’s life – oh no!
• Emma Fallbrook’s learning disability (which I correctly diagnosed right away, even if such a term didn’t yet exist in 1849)
• Surprising secrets and twists!
• Forbidden romance

Final Thoughts

The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall is an enthralling novel that matches the tone of mid-nineteenth century Gothic fiction perfectly. The murder mystery takes up the bulk of the narrative, with a confounding mix of clues leading to different suspects. (I was shocked at who the villain turned out to be!) However, I also enjoyed the scenes about unraveling Emma’s learning disability and the romance between Diana and Captain Fallbrook that later starts to emerge. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t wait for the next books in the series. The Secrets of Thorndale Manor will arrive this June, while Danger at Darkmoor Park is due in September.

Special thanks to Syrie James, Dragonblade Publishing, Austenprose PR, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall here.

The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall by Syrie James
Series	The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire (#1)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Mystery; Historical Romance
Setting	Cornwall, England
Number of Pages	320
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	February 22, 2025
Publisher	Dragonblade Publishing

Official Summary

She vowed to solve a murder.

Now she’s in danger of losing her heart … and her very life.

Diana Taylor, a bright and spirited governess who has sworn off love, is sent to Pendowar Hall in Cornwall to honor a pledge. She vows to teach her godmother’s niece and to find out who was behind the suspicious death of the former baronet. But her new charge is also a mystery, as is the man who inherited the ancient coastal estate—the charismatic but brooding Royal Navy Captain William Fallbrook, who is home on leave to recover from an injury.

As Diana investigates, her feelings for the enigmatic Captain Fallbrook blossom, and her guard goes up. Pendowar Hall is brimming with secrets as well as a frightening legend about a Mermaid’s Curse. What is behind the mysterious footsteps in the night? Is there more to the story of the tragic deaths of the former baronet’s wife and son? What secrets is Captain Fallbrook hiding? Can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?

He looks to be entranced by Diana, even though her determination to dig up the past seems to get on his last nerve. Soon, Diana’s bold quest to unmask his uncle’s killer leads her into terrifying danger, for someone is determined to end her life before she can discover the truth.