The Secrets of Wycliffe Manor

This is the start of a new series. The first half of this book is both story and story setup, so there’s not as much action at the start. Nevertheless, the setup is important, for it lays the foundation for the rest of this book and probably for future books in the series. The protagonists in this story are Captain Alistair Huntley and Clarissa (Clare) Knightly. Huntley is an engineer recently released from Army service in America because of injuries to his eye and knee. He can’t see as well now, and he has trouble walking distances and can’t stay on a horse any longer. He’s at a low point in his life and learns that he may be part owner of an old manor house in England. So he and his best friend head there to see what’s what. Clare is raising her nephew (after his parents died), and her best friend will soon be a single parent, and when they learn that Clare might be part owner of this manor home, they decide that a fresh start might be good for everyone. Soon there are multiple loosely-related legitimate and illegitimate ‘family’ members all sharing this manor house, and trying to make it a home. The premise is strong and has a lot of potential. There are a few tense places in the book, but around half of it is relevant background matter. The remainder involves a treasure hunt, a hunt for historical diaries, a few encounters with misguided evildoers, some danger and illness, and a strong storm. The overall ‘found family’ aspect of this story is one of its strengths, and it’s delightful to read how people with such differing backgrounds can all work together so harmoniously. I’m excited to see how this series develops! This story is a complete story, but it’s obvious that there is still more to come. There are a few things that are left open-ended, but not in a cliffhanger sense—just that they aren’t totally finished yet and there is more to come.