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Review: DANGER AT DARKMOOR PARK by Syrie James
- Christina Boyd
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
ABOUT THE BOOK
Hidden treasure. Murder. Mystery. Romance. All while snowbound at Christmas.
While trapped by a blizzard at a remote country manor house over Christmas, a school headmistress teams up with a charismatic doctor to solve a murder and hunt for hidden treasure.
But can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?
Selena Taylor is thrilled to cohost a Christmas house party at Darkmoor Park, the beautiful Yorkshire estate she will one day inherit. But a massive snowstorm hits the area, and no one can leave. When one of the guests dies after giving Selena a cryptic clue to a cache of hidden money, she suspects that he was murdered.
Dr. Adrian Scott arrives out of the blizzard and he and Selena, fueled by a burning mutual attraction, become partners in investigating both mysteries—a thrilling hunt for hidden treasure and the search for a ruthless killer—while trapped with holiday guests who all seem to be hiding a secret.
When another guest dies and she starts receiving threatening notes, Selena realizes that she is in terrible danger, pursued by a relentless villain and involved with a man whose touch makes her heart race but who may be hiding a deadly secret of his own.
REVIEW BY CHRISTINA BOYD
Snowbound in a grand Yorkshire manor, surrounded by mystery, danger, and a growing romance—Syrie James’ latest novel, Danger at Darkmoor Park, is everything I love in a cozy mystery and more. With a historical setting, a winter holiday backdrop, and a heroine who’s equal parts daring and grounded, this book checks all the boxes for a delightful, suspenseful read.
Selena Taylor is a refreshingly capable protagonist—bold and fearless, yet always sensible and emotionally intelligent. I loved watching her take charge in such high-stakes circumstances, especially as the blizzard traps her and the other guests at Darkmoor Park. When a fellow guest dies after giving her a cryptic clue, the stakes rise dramatically, pulling the reader into a thrilling hunt for hidden treasure—and a dangerous game of cat and mouse.
The doctor’s brows shot up. ‘What did he say?’
Selena paused, as Mr. Clarkes’ anxious but enigmatic last words came back to her. ‘I hid it…under the dragon. Four rows! In the…’ There he had broken off. He seemed to have been trying to tell her something of great import. —Chapter 3
Enter Dr. Adrian Scott, who emerges from the snowstorm just in time to help or possibly hinder. The partnership between him and Selena is the perfect blend of tension, trust, and slow-burning chemistry. Their growing attraction feels risky and delicious, made even more compelling by the fact that neither can be completely sure of the other's motives.
She couldn’t forget the heartfelt look in Dr. Scott’s eyes before he had said good night. The sensation of his fingertips as they touched her cheek with his parting indirect ‘kiss’ had kept her awake for hours and still lingered. —Chapter 8
With its richly atmospheric setting, clever plot twists, and irresistible romantic thread, this is a story that kept me turning the pages well past bedtime. Syrie James has once again crafted a tale full of heart, intrigue, and holiday magic. I can’t wait for everyone to read it so we can discuss.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SYRIE JAMES is the author of fifteen critically acclaimed novels of historical mystery, historical fiction, historical romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and young adult that have been international, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers and are published in more than 20 languages. Her books have been Library Journal Editor’s Picks of the Year, received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus, and won numerous awards including the Audiobook Audie, the Women's National Book Association Great Group Read, Romantic Read of the Week (Barnes and Noble), Best Novel of the Year (Romance Reviews), and Best Snowbound Romance (Bookbub).
Hailed by Los Angeles Magazine as the “queen of nineteenth-century re-imaginings,” Syrie is a research and story structure maven whose goal is to write page-turning novels that take her characters on challenging journeys of growth and discovery.
A member of the WGA, Historical Novel Society, Sisters in Crime, Dramatist's Guild, and Jane Austen Society of North America, Syrie has sold numerous scripts to film and TV and addressed organizations and literary conferences across the U.S. and in Canada, Australia, and England. She is also a published playwright, and her stage plays have been produced across North America. You can connect with Syrie via her website and social media.
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