"As the bones start to fall, the spirits will rise...

Norfolk, England, 1895: When renowned spiritualist Edward Blackmore receives a desperate message from his cousin Barnabas, begging him to come to the coastal village of Thistlewick Tye, his first thought is to ignore the request. Despite his cousin's insistence that his wife is possessed by a malevolent spirit, Edward has no time for the man who stole his inheritance.

Lured by the promise of money, along with a genuine concern for Barnabas's wife - who he'd once loved - he reluctantly travels to at Thistlewick House, only to arrive too late. Emma is dead.

Barnabas suspects there are supernatural forces at play. But Edward is convinced murder is afoot. As he begins to investigate, he finds himself drawn into the lives of those in this isolated and unnerving village, especially the beguiling woman who gathers up the human bones falling from the rapidly eroding cliffs.

Then he discovers that a travelling circus completely disappeared in the area forty years previously and no one is willing to talk about it. Perhaps not everything at Thistlewick Tye is quite what it seems...

A totally gripping and unmissable historical novel, perfect for reading groups and fans of Louise Douglas, Sarah Waters and Erin Morgenstern, from the bestselling author of No. 23, Burlington Square."

There's a spiritualist, I'm in.

What a fantastic story! A delicious blend of creepy, a decades-old secret coming to light, the paranormal, a small village, and even a touch of romance. Edward Blackmore, a well known spiritualist, is called to Thistlewick Tye, a small village on the coast of Norfolk, by his cousin. His cousin is convinced his wife was possessed just before she died. Edward slowly comes to realise that there's far more to the situation than meets the eye. As he investigates further and some of his own secrets are revealed, he discovers a 40 year old mystery that has direct links to the current situation. Brilliantly written, with good characters and twists that'll keep you turning the pages!
Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and Jenni Keer for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this as a World War 2 historical novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was happening. Jenni Keer wrote this perfectly and was glad I was able to read this, I cared about what was happening to the people in this world and how their story was told. I was invested in what was happening with the characters and getting into their journey, it was tense and worked as a mystery novel.

I am not a fan of horror 😒 but good read.

I appreciate Boldwood Books and NetGalley for allowing me to get an ARC of this book 📖

Thank you, Jenni Keer, for this copy.

Some interesting events in here, and characters are nicely fleshed out.
For me it was a nice easy read I didnt think about too much, just enjoyed the place, the setting, the people, the circus.
I don't think it will be hugely memorable, but it had enough twists to keep me entertained in the moment.

The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House is a deliciously eerie blend of historical mystery and gothic whimsy, set against the crumbling cliffs and secrets of 1895 Norfolk. Jenni Keer conjures a world where bones fall from the earth, spirits whisper through the walls, and the past refuses to stay buried.

Edward Blackmore, a reluctant spiritualist with a tangled past, arrives at Thistlewick House expecting theatrics—but finds death, suspicion, and a village steeped in silence. What unfolds is a story stitched with grief, guilt, and the uncanny, as Edward unravels not only the mystery of his cousin’s wife, but the haunting legacy of a vanished circus and a woman who collects bones like memories.

Keer’s prose is evocative without excess, her characters flawed and magnetic. There’s a quiet poetry to the way she threads romance, folklore, and suspense—never overwrought, always compelling. I especially loved the atmospheric tension: the sense that something ancient and unknowable is watching from the edges.

Perfect for fans of Sarah Waters and Erin Morgenstern, this is a tale that lingers like sea mist—strange, sorrowful, and beautifully told.

Thank you to Jenni Keer, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House is the perfect book for autumn, set on the windswept coast of Norfolk, where fossils and more recent human bones are found in the eroding cliffs. Adding to the gothic atmosphere are the strange possessions of the recently dead in the village of Thistlewick Tye, and a spiritualist claiming to speak with the dead. There are many secrets in this village, and someone will kill to keep them hidden. And, even better for an autumn book, there's real magic too.

This story twists and turns, with characters you will love and some so despicable their evilness oozes off the pages. Ultimately, this is about the intolerance for people who are different and the danger of religious fanaticism. Even though this book is set in the 19th century, many of the individuals in the traveling circus would still be ostracized for physical deformities or being foreigners. I loved that the circus performers had created their own family unit, genuinely caring for each other. When I had almost finished the book and thought I had figured everything out, there was an unexpected twist...I love when that happens. The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewood House is the first book I've read by Jenni Keer, but won't be the last. I highly recommend this spooky, gothic story of transmigration and buried secrets.

Thank you Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this ARC. The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House is set to be published October 11, 2025.

Jenni Keer is the queen of mixing magic and historical fiction. I've only read two of her books, as I just recently discovered her, but both have been awesome.

In her newest novel, The Peculiar Incident at Thistlewick House, we follow Edward Blackmore as he looks to find the cause death of his cousin's wife, Emma. The book is set in 1895 in England, and spiritualism is still looked down on in most parts. Edward has made his living by communicating with the dead, and he is tasked with finding out what really happened to Emma.

Edward has been living a life of secrets, and was never really accepted in his family. In fact, his father willed everything to his cousin instead. When Edward comes home to Thistlewick, he is faced with coming clean on his profession, plus his other secret he has been hiding his whole life. While coming to terms with who he is, he learns of possessions that have been happening, and due to meeting those spirits, finds his true self and happiness.

This is a 5/5 star read. Excellent for your autumn reading, and I 100% recommend picking up a copy when it is released.