Review of 'Danger at Darkmoor Park' by Syrie James

Review of 'Danger at Darkmoor Park' by Syrie James

Release date: October 28th, 2025

Publisher: Dragonblade Publishing

The novel’s blurb:

Hidden treasure. Murder. Mystery. Romance. All while snowbound at Christmas.
While trapped by a blizzard at a remote country manor house over Christmas, a school headmistress teams up with a charismatic doctor to solve a murder and hunt for hidden treasure.
But can she trust the man who has stolen her heart?
Selena Taylor is thrilled to cohost a Christmas house party at Darkmoor Park, the beautiful Yorkshire estate she will one day inherit. But a massive snowstorm hits the area, and no one can leave. When one of the guests dies after giving Selena a cryptic clue to a cache of hidden money, she suspects that he was murdered.
Dr. Adrian Scott arrives out of the blizzard and he and Selena, fueled by a burning mutual attraction, become partners in investigating both mysteries—a thrilling hunt for hidden treasure and the search for a ruthless killer—while trapped with holiday guests who all seem to be hiding a secret.
When another guest dies and she starts receiving threatening notes, Selena realizes that she is in terrible danger, pursued by a relentless villain and involved with a man whose touch makes her heart race but who may be hiding a deadly secret of his own.

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REVIEW

Wow, what a thrilling and riveting Victorian murder mystery romance! The whole time I was reading Danger at Darkmoor Park by Syrie James, I kept thinking of Agatha Christie and how much this story’s elements reminded me of hers. There are numerous clever twists and turns, a secluded setting where all suspects are confined by a storm together in one place and a mile of red herrings to keep you guessing for hours! Just when you think you may have worked out who the killer is, then you are taken in another direction. As a result, it is a really fun novel and will keep you on your detective toes!

There are plenty of surprises and unexpected developments in Danger at Darkmoor Park so Syrie had me hook, line and sinker from start to finish! I could not stop turning the pages until I figured everything out. Well, until the killer was revealed! I loved the ending. The journey was engrossing and every step was worth all the effort of being led down a number of garden paths. It’s a festive, treasure hunt, find-the killer, mystery-maze!

After a guest falls down the stairs and help is sent, a visiting doctor in the area arrives on the scene but too late. Before the victim dies, though, he tells Selena Taylor (co-host and head mistress of the school) a most vital yet cryptic secret with his last breath. This sets her on a journey of investigation but not alone. With the weather so unruly, the doctor is invited by the host to stay. As they join with interest to solve the crime and crack the secret of the missing pieces of the puzzle, an undercurrent attraction between our main two characters develops. I love how Selena Taylor and Doctor Adrian Scott work intuitively together. They make quite a team! (And yes it is another Agatha Christie influence.) The romantic temptation and development between our two daring sleuths adds a heart-warming touch. How they work around the expected social behaviour norms of the culture was admirable. Although they step momentarily outside the era’s wall of rules, they act realistically. Stealing kisses, touching each other and being alone in locations was considered taboo at that time, and could ruin their reputations, but they could not resist. And because of that, their daringness adds a freshness and charm to the story.

Syrie deserves a huge amount of praise for the fantastic delivery and content of this novel. My curiosity was well bated by all the strange and suspicious happenings. I felt a wide range of emotions and there were times my chest literally hurt from the tension! This snowbound murder mystery at Darkmoor Park is bursting with atmosphere! I felt completely pulled into the setting, while following our sleuth pair. And I could visualise everything thanks to all the authentic exceptional descriptions. I was completely transported to another time period in a unique location. And as I became immersed deeper and deeper in the plot, I felt I was there!

It is quite an eclectic group of people who end up together at the country manor. Anything becomes possible when the winter blizzard makes transportation limited and guests are detained in a single dwelling. (More Agatha Christie mystery-like charm.) When a guest dies, the first thought is that it must have been an accident. But after taking a closer look, and more details are gathered, it appears something sinister has happened. Quickly the suspicions escalate and a murder is plausible. With that realisation, comes fears, doubts and accusations. Who has done this evil deed? So when another guest dies, it seems more than coincidence. With everyone confined by the storm, and remaining in one place, it makes the investigation a little easier. But it also makes it more frightening as a killer lurks on the premises. Will they strike again and who will be the next victim? As the list of suspects continues to unfold, Selena’s imagination ramps up as she and Doctor Scott analyse each person’s background. At times, there are some pretty convincing motives! While the possible stories behind each guest and newer manor employees are formulated. As one character has noted: everyone has secrets, right? But which ones can bring about death?

I must say the characters are wonderfully vivid and well framed in each scene. Although we only get to know the suspects to a point, suspicions follow each of them through a major part of the plot. Of course, they are supposed to come across this way during the investigation as that is part of the mystery format. But like our hero and heroine, we continually question whether the guests are who they say they are and do they have a motive to kill or steal?

The author provides some fascinating inspiration behind the novel (read the Author Notes last). I can see why she was haunted by a piece of family history and was able to use it to her advantage in Danger at Darkmoor Park. But Syrie James puts a fresh and clever spin on it in an Agatha Christie way, making it an exciting and riveting read. Although the story is set during Christmas, it could be read and enjoyed with gusto at any time of the year! Get a copy now and you’ll be raving about it as I am! 5 Stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to author and publisher for a review copy.

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