A ★★★ Book Review of The House at the End of the Moor, by Michelle Griep | A historical fiction novel.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All thoughts below are my own. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links which means I will receive a commission based on sales generated via these links.

She’s on the run from her past.

He’s on the run from the law.

But no one can run forever.

All her life, Maggie Lee has defied the odds, rising from poverty to become one of Victorian England’s most accomplished opera singers. But fame opens the door to demons she never expected to face. Forsaking the limelight, she flees to the rugged countryside of Dartmoor, where she can live in quiet anonymity.

All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man lying on the moor.

Convict Oliver Ward escapes the infamous Dartmoor prison -barely. Wounded, he is taken in by a mysterious woman who’s as much an enigma as himself. It’s only a matter of time before the authorities find him, but how will be be able to prove his innocence?

In a world of vice and deception, Oliver and Maggie must learn to trust each other - and God.

★★★ | With over 30+ five star reviews on Amazon, The House at the End of the Moor is a new favorite of historical fiction lovers. Christy Award winning author, Michelle Griep, delivers a brand new story set in the Victorian era of England’s Dartmoor countryside.

When I read the synopsis to this story and saw the fantastic reviews it was receiving online, I was excited to dive in. Unfortunately friends, I wasn’t able to completely finish this story. Sadly, I lost interest about halfway through. I skimmed the remaining parts of the book, seeking to understand how the story concluded and decide if I was being too hasty in my decision to fold. My conclusion was that, as with every book, opinions are all subjective and my expectations for this book were based on personal preferences.

Pros: For historical fiction readers who are considering this book, it offers a suspenseful storyline with two main characters who are likable and quirky, as well as a developing romance that is sweet. Griep offers beautiful descriptions of the countryside and I enjoyed her writing style and sentence formation that rang true to the era. The faith-based elements are heart-warming and Griep shows heart level transformations that only repentance and faith in God can bring about.

Cons: The plot felt lacking in planning and execution. At times, both the villain and the unfolding of events were chuckle-worthy. At other times, the villain’s actions and abuse were revolting, yet there were times I felt as if the author wanted me to feel for him. Perhaps, in light of the end of the story, she did. But the way she brought him to life in the first few chapters along with his bully attitude and merciless punishments made me feel as if he couldn’t be redeemed. I would have preferred to have not read from his point of view or been “inside in his thoughts”. I truly believe it was because of his character that I couldn’t finish the story.

Overall, I believe this is a story many historical fiction readers will enjoy. It simply wasn’t the story for me. I am open to reading other books by this author and I hope you’ll give this book a chance yourself!