The Secrets of Saffron Hall: An absolutely gripping Tudor historical fiction novel

I enjoyed this story

This is a dual timeline story, following the lives of two women living a quincentenary apart, but with a thread of shared experience that somehow binds them across the centuries. In the early sixteenth century, Eleanor is a young girl, reluctantly married but making a go of her new life at her husband’s grand house in Norfolk, growing saffron to increase his fortunes. It is a time of great upheaval in the country, as Henry VIII enacts the Act of Supremacy and begins to dissolve the monasteries. In current times, Amber has suffered an earth-shattering upheaval of her own, and goes off to hide at her family’s long-time home, Saffron Hall, where her future becomes inextricably linked with Eleanor’s past.The author handles the dual timeline brilliantly, expertly weaving the two stories together, so it is easy to follow whose story we are in, and how the one is feeding in to the other. She gives both women a strong, defined character and an equally important and well-developed storyline, so the novel feels well balanced and satisfying in both timelines. I was equally invested in the fates of both women, and completely sold on the idea that Amber’s future happiness, in her head at least, depended on her resolving the puzzle of Eleanor’s past.This novel deals with a very difficult subject matter and, as someone who has been through this experience herself, I found the author dealt with it sensitively and with great understanding and tenderness and honesty. Whilst it did bring back some difficult memories, it left me moved and comforted, rather than distraught, and I would not have wanted to be put off reading it, although I suppose some who have been through the experience more recently and for whom the issue is more raw, may want to proceed with caution.The author brings the life of the sixteenth century vividly to life in this book, and I became completely lost in the daily existence of Eleanor’s household and her duties and cares. It is a historical period that is rich in happenings and excitement and Clare mines them expertly and cleverly to provide the tension in the book. If you know any of the history of this period, the introduction of one character to the narrative will set alarm bells ringing, and you will be waiting for the fallout to ripple through the narrative. Clare has been very clever with the way she has woven real historical figures with fiction in the text, and I was almost reading the last part of the book from behind a metaphorical cushion, waiting for the inevitable. It is hard to get someone on tenterhooks when they almost feel like they know what is coming, so I take my hat off to this author that she managed it.This is a vivid, moving, evocative story with a hint of the supernatural, and I absolutely loved it. It is a must-read for fans of the time period, and for a great, dual timeline story. Excellent work.

I enjoyed this story though it was predictable.

Where to start ! I loved this book so much - I couldn’t put it down but was loathe to finish it. The sign of a good book is feeling sad when you turn the last page and I am bereft. This is Clare Marchants first novel and I am looking forward to her second one already. I loved the dual timeline - which was excellently done. Her characters have great depth and at times I felt I was on their journey with them. I have always loved historical drama but this had an added twist with the current day storyline intertwined with it. The depth of research into the historical references and the locality was spot on - living just over the border in Cambs I enjoyed spotting place names I know and recognise. A really great first novel and definitely an author I will be following for future books - very soon I hope !

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. The dual timelines are expertly entwined and deliver two compelling stories of the lives of two intriguing women, across the centuries. I am a Tudor history obsessive and was delighted beyond measure by the accuracy of the research and the care that has gone into the book. The historical detail of the Tudor world is impeccable and you feel as if you have been transported through time. Clare Marchant is my new favourite author and I can't wait for her next novel.