Catherine Symonds learns that her younger sister Emily committed suicide in the woods behind Locksley Abby where she worked as a nanny for Sir Rowland. But Catherine thought her sister dead for years. So she decides to apply under a false name to become the next nanny. Once she gets near Locksley, she hears rumours of dangers in the 'Puzzle wood'. Arthur Sidstone also returns home to his grandfather, who is a doctor, and Sir Rowland asks him to intercede with the miners who are experiencing difficulties.

The puzzle wood is Rosie Andrews' second book after her debut The leviathan. I quite enjoyed that novel, even with the paranormal aspects. The puzzle word sounded more like a gothic novel with a mysterious murder, rumours of ghosts in the forest and the lady of the house hiding herself at the attic.

But the book is rather chaotic. You don't really get a connection with Catherine searching for the truth around her sister. And it all takes a very long time. Meanwhile, Arthur is also telling his story. He also has a past (that was told rather messy) and then there's the storyline around the miners. The book lacks focus and it all moves very slowly. Until the last 20%, then everything moves forward. But the ending couldn't convince me.

I still don't get what happened to Emily and Catherine in their childhood, and the motivations of both the adults at that time and two girls afterwards when they are grownups. So I found this a difficult book to read and of her two novels I certainly prefer The Leviathan. I don't know if I will pick up another book by Andrews.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m a fan of the author’s novel The Leviathan so was really looking forward to reading The Puzzle Wood. I enjoyed this book but not as much as I expected. This book has two story threads which I enjoyed and you really need to keep reading to see how the two stories connect. The first thread is Catherine who takes over as governess from her dead sister because she wants to find out the truth about her death. The second thread is the local miners who are not happy the mine is falling behind production and the Puzzle Wood of the title which may or may not be destroyed and is a place of rumours and sinister secrets. I liked the atmosphere of fear and suspicion created in the book. However, I felt the Welsh folklore than runs through the story could have been developed more. I like the plot twists which did take me by surprise. I’d recommend this.

Another great book by Rosie Andrews, if you enjoyed The Leviathan then this won't disappoint.

Full review to be posted on The History Belles at a later date.

This is a slower-paced historical fiction that revolves around the death of a young woman. Emily was a governess and her death appears to be simple to explain, however, her sister Cathrine thinks there is more to it than that. Taking the opportunity to become a governess to her late sisters' charge, Catherine is able to piece things together.

Catherine can join the household due to being once married and now a widow. She keeps this information to herself so she can gently discover more. Against this the story also has another thread, this is one of the nearby mine. Workers are disgruntled and the mine is not producing enough. There are rumours that the local wood, Puzzle Wood is to be destroyed, this wood is an area full of mystery, rumour and superstition.

I enjoyed this story as the author blends the story of Catherine and that of the miners and also the sparse staff who live in the main house. Another thread lurks in here as well, memories and some sort of turmoil, quite what that threw me initially. I liked Catherine and her charge, and some of the other characters, I can't say I warmed to any of them though.

The author does a good job of seeding suspicion and doubt and creating an atmosphere of eeriness with mysterious tones. Plenty is going on but it seems very erratic as the author flits between her different threads. At times it took me a minute to work out where or when I was.

I will say I enjoyed this, especially as things started to come together, then suddenly it went from a slower-paced mystery to a frenetic race to the end when things were answered. A first time reading this author and I will pick up more of her books as I did enjoy the mystery. Happy to recommend.

Rosie Andrews invites readers on a chilling journey into the heart of mystery and folklore with her latest novel. Set against the backdrop of a remote estate nestled in the shadow of the Black Mountains, this atmospheric tale weaves together secrets, myths and the follies of man.

While the premise is undeniably intriguing, Andrews's execution may leave some readers wanting more. The Welsh folklore that permeates the story feels somewhat underdeveloped, serving more as background noise than a fully integrated aspect of the narrative. However, where the novel truly shines is in its characters. Catherine, with her complex motivations and inner turmoil, is a compelling protagonist, while the charming yet mysterious young doctor adds depth and intrigue to the story.

Despite its occasional flaws, the novel delivers a satisfying twist at the end that will leave readers reeling. Andrews plays with expectations and delivers a conclusion that is both surprising and satisfying. It's a testament to her skill as a storyteller that she is able to keep readers guessing until the very last page.

Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

In a historical fiction setting, the present-day plot had some draw, but the complicated connection to the main character's sister's strange death in the woods seemed wierd. Trying to combine stories, memories, and killings didn't work out well, and I had a hard time seeing how the past was connected to what was happening.

The book seemed disjointed, whilst the premise offered a gothic style tale I feel it didn't ever produce that.

However I didn't see any of the plot twists coming, so that's a good thing

Both Mysterious and ominous, I absolutely loved The Puzzle Wood!

Catherine finds out that her estranged sister has passed away, but the story surrounding her death doesn't quite add up. Catherine takes it upon herself to investigate the matter and goes undercover at Locksley Abbey by filling the position of governess.

I the book to have quite a slow start, but all the information was important to the main story. Once The Puzzle Wood got going I was gripped, I loved all the twists and turns.

I highly recommend The Puzzle Wood. Wonderfully written by Rosie Andrews with characters that you'll either love or hate.

Catherine Symonds applies to work as a governess at Locksley Abbey in order to learn the circumstances of the death of the previous governess, whom she believes to be her sister. At the same time a doctor, Arthur Sidstone returns to the area after time away, working in Batavia. Their two stories meet and mix in this strange place on the edge of England but not really Wales.
This is a story that had a huge potential and with a interesting strap line and I was excited to read it, sadly I found the execution was less promising. The back story of Catherine is important but drawn out, whilst Arthur's backstory seemed very long winded, and largely unnecessary.
The plot twists in the story were good, and I certainly didn't guess the direction the plot was going to take, but I wasn't invested enough in the characters to feel satisfied by it.
I'm sure some people will love this book. The setting is atmospheric and there is a sense of otherworldliness with an echo of ghosts. Sadly for me the execution left something to be desired.
With thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

A beautifully written, atmospheric thriller full of gothic unease. I loved the central characters of Catherine and Arthur, their different motivations kept me engaged, and there were so many twists and turns that I was constantly wrong footed and eager to find out what was going on. I hadn’t guessed at all, and the resolution was shocking and satisfying. I love a book with a hint of ghosts and magic, and this had the perfect amount. Arthur’s last chapter, especially, was beautiful and very affecting. A delicious, richly woven story.

I did enjoy this book. Granted, the subject of a governess in a large forbidding house of family secrets and a recluse wife will not set the world alight. But, all the same, this is a properly crafted Gothic storyline with twists and a fairly high bodycount. True, it gets a bit manic and convoluted towards the end, but nonetheless, the Welsh folklore, the miners’ plight and the unsettling nature of the grand house itself make for a great goosepimply read.

An atmospheric and intriguing gothic novel. Catherine Symonds arrives at Locksley determined to solve the mystery of what happened to her sister Emily, the governess whose shoes Catherine is stepping into. Multiple narratives from the Chartists in Newport to the plight of the mine workers to long held aristocratic secrets combine to form a novel with the most unreliable of narrators and a plot that is dense in the best of ways. I found I would have just decided I was absolutely sure what was happening only to find that my predictions were not entirely correct. Highly recommended.

Mystery, mayhem, deception at every turn of the page. This is a real period drama at its finest.
The big house, to which our protagonist comes as a new governess to the landowners daughter, is full of strange and unfriendly staff and she knows she must tread carefully around them.
Outside of the big house we have the forest, dark and itself full of mystery and tales of other worldly beings seen galloping through the woods at night on strange beasts. No-one enters the forest at night for fear of these creatures and their strange light.
This is a book you won’t want to put down until you’ve got the answers to all the unanswered questions about this house and its residents with the nail biting reveal at the end. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

I am so sorry to say I got 40% in and couldn't continue. I loved the blurb and the idea of the book but I just couldn't get on with it. I have literally no idea what was going beyond Catherine's story line.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐳𝐳𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐨𝐝 | 𝐑𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐬
★★★

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬
Catherine Symonds arrives at Locksley Abbey as the new Governess, but what she would really like to learn is the circumstances surrounding her sister’s death, the previous Governess.

𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟
⟡ Historical fiction
⟡ Elements of horror and mystery
⟡ Welsh mythology and history
⟡ Gothic vibes with an occult subplot

𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝
I really loved the premise of this book, and when I first dived in, I was delighted by the persistently ominous tone that bought a setting full of shadows and secrets to life and haunted the main character as she settled at Locksley Abbey.

Catherine Symonds was a really intriguing character. She was a perfectly unreliable narrator with a childhood she couldn’t remember and a dead sister she couldn’t forget. Her dynamics were shallow with others as she is determined to hold on to her real identity.

I also enjoyed the Welsh mythology element to this book. I loved how the Wild Hunt and their Cŵn Annwn were described and incorporated within the book. The shrieks, the rattling chains, the baying of the dogs and the foreboding silence that would shadow the characters was a wickedly wonderful way of setting the atmosphere. Additionally, the Newport history of the Chartist Rising is utilised in this book and I liked how RA synthesized both fact and fiction into this book.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝
Unfortunately, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. I found the writing confusing and found myself having to reread a paragraph quite often. The pacing was slow and its grip on my attention was loose.

More than anything, this is based on a real setting that sits on the border between England and Wales and is a setting of completely untapped potential. It should have been amazing in the book. The setting was written as as though it had a mind of its own but honestly I feel like the author should have made the setting more of a character than a mere ambience. If you google ‘the puzzle wood’ then you can see how the atmospheric and twisted looking setting is the absolute perfect spot for a mystery to be solved. I do think it was given a disservice in this novel and that was such a disappointment to me.

𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐪𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘺𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥.”

“𝘕𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘐𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵.”

“𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘬𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵?
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨-𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳, 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 ’𝘴 𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘥𝘶𝘨 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦?
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘯, 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨–𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥–𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦?”

𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
I found this similar to The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes-Chapman due to them both being historical fiction which incorporated welsh mythology and had subplots of the occult.

I dont know if it is the rather shoddy way this book has been formatted of just me but the story is very disjointed and difficult to read. I tried, I really did, to love this book but the way it was presented made it very difficult to read and I had to keep reading bits over again. I do feel this does the author a disservice as otherwise it did seem to be an interesting tale.

“Deep in the woods, something is stirring...
When Miss Catherine Symonds arrives to take up a position as governess at remote Locksley Abbey in the foothills of the Black Mountains, where England bleeds into Wales, she is apprehensive.

She is travelling in disguise to investigate the fate of the last governess at the house, who took her own life out in the woods. For that governess was Catherine's own sister."

This gothic tale envelopes you in eerie dialogue and mystery. From the brashness of the mines, to the dark sinister Abbey and intriguing characters who live and work there. I honestly did not know what direction the story was going to take from one chapter to the next with twist and unexpected turns being thrown up regularly. I enjoyed the book and the story, particularly as I am aware of the Puzzle Wood area a little.

However, I do feel it had a slow start and that certain chapters could have been entirely skipped. In particular, there is a lot of narrative of the old folk lore from the senior doctor, and the history of the uprising that whilst, I understand it was part of the background to the story it went on for far too long and felt unnecessary, I did end up skipping over these sections and just scan reading them. The ending also felt rushed and in the rushing lost a certain depth and explanation I felt.

Thank you to NetGalley for this advance copy and the opportunity to help support authors and their books
Rating
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I have recently read Puzzle Wood by Rosie Andrew’s, the concept of the story sounded really good, Catherine goes under another identity to find out how her sister Emily died.

In the meantime there are other stories entwined into the book, you have the miners and what happens with the pit and also the stories and rumours about the local wood.

Great idea but the story didn’t move along nicely, it felt quite disjointed.

Good ending, shame it felt quite hard to get to complete the story.

I desperately wanted to like this book as I loved The Leviathan but unfortunately I couldn’t get interested enough to read any more than the first third.

I was drawn to this due to its synopsis and gothic setting (gothic / historical literature is one of my favourite genres). Unfortunately this book fell flat for me.

A deliciously dark historical novel. The perfect mix of history, psychological thriller, and supernatural happenings. The writing and its descriptions makes this book a very visual read, bringing all the dark goings on to life!