Review: The Secrets of Thorndale Manor by Syrie James

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor (The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire, Book 2)

by Syrie James 

Release Date: June 28, 2025

2025 Independently Published 

Ebook ARC; 382 Pages

ISBN: 979- 8288628207

ASIN: B0DWHMYCVY

Genre: Fiction / Mystery / Historical

Source: Review copy from publisher

 

4 / 5 Stars

 

Summary

When Athena Taylor opens the Darkmoor Bridge School for Girls at the grand and storied Thorndale Manor, she hopes for a new beginning. But the estate’s dark past quickly resurfaces when a maid is found dead under suspicious circumstances—and whispers stir of a murder committed nine years earlier, a crime for which Ian Vernon’s sister was convicted.

Athena believes the two cases are connected. Ian Vernon, Thorndale’s brooding former heir, insists she’s wrong—and warns her to leave the past buried. But Athena is as fearless as she is determined, and her investigation brings her into close quarters with the man who should be her adversary… yet soon proves to be something much more.

As secrets unravel and a killer grows desperate, Athena finds herself in terrifying danger, caught between the pursuit of justice and a powerful attraction that threatens to derail everything.

 

My Thoughts

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor is the second book in this series, and I very much enjoyed the continuing story of the Taylor sisters. The book has a great gothic vibe to it, something that drew me to it in the first place, set on an estate with abundant mysteries and secrets from the past, and also comes with former brooding owner who naturally takes center stage in Athena's life.  The current mystery connects with the older one in an intriguing manner, and the twists and turns were quite interesting. 

 

Athena and Selena have opened up a school for girls, but naturally things are difficult from the beginning due to the rumours surrounding the estate from it past history as well as the currently murder being investigated. The focus on this book is Athena and I quite enjoyed getting to know her better. Athena is a determined and relentless woman who decides to take matters into her own hands when the current investigation starts affecting enrollment at her school.  And while she could be a bit reckless at times and perhaps a bit too bold, I liked her character. However, being bold and asking too many questions also landed her in a heap of trouble.  But, the situations were believable, not contrived just to push along the story, something that I liked. 

 

The secondary characters, including Selena, were quite diverse and many had secrets of their own of which only some have come to light in this book so I am looking forward to the next book to see what is revealed. This doesn't affect this story in any way however, just makes you understand the depth to a village and how much a little one can hide.  The closed door romance between Athena and Ian was delightful and didn't impact the overall story at all. Sometimes the romance can overpower the mystery, but I thought the author did a great job balancing the two, keeping the tension of the mystery going even with the little personal touches and day-to-day goings on. I did figure out the culprit very early on in the story, but still enjoyed the way the author tried to confuse the reader through the twists and turns. The plot moved rather quickly and the overall setting was quite atmospheric with hints of ghosts and other happenings all leading to a very satisfying conclusion.

 

Verdict

The Secrets of Thorndale Manor was a delight to read and I enjoyed it quite a bit. The plot moved rather quickly and I enjoyed the way the author incorporated the gothic tones into the story which added to the tension and the atmosphere.  You don't have to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but it does add to the sister dynamic if you do. I am definitely looking forward to Selena's story in the next book.