In the Shadow of Croft Towers: A Regency Romance

Written by Abigail Wilson

Narrated by Laura Kirman

Nothing—and no one—at Croft Towers is what they claim in this Gothic Regency romance.

When Sybil Delafield’s coach to Croft Towers was robbed by highwaymen, she should have realized that her new position as companion to old Mrs. Chalcroft would be no ordinary job. Upon Sybil’s arrival, Mrs. Chalcroft sneaks into her room in the dark of night, imploring her to relay messages to town that are to stay hidden from the rest of the family. Who exactly is she working for and what do the messages contain?

When fellow passengers of the robbed coach are later murdered, Sybil’s hunt for the truth takes on a new urgency. The only person she can rely on is Mr. Sinclair, Mrs. Chalcroft’s godson, but under all his charms he too leads a double life. Sybil must decide if he is the one honest voice she can trust, or if he is simply using her for his own advances.

Croft Towers holds more than its share of secrets . . . and Sybil is determined to uncover them all.

Praise for In the Shadow of Croft Towers

“In the Shadow of Croft Towers is everything I love in a novel: a classic gothic feel, a regency setting, a mysterious hero . . . and secrets abounding!” —Dawn Crandall, award-winning author of the Everstone Chronicles series

“Shades of Gothic romance in a portrait of Regency England . . . if Jane Austen ever met Jane Eyre, it would be at Croft Towers!” —Kristy Cambron, author of Castle on the Rise

"Blending the unputdownable Regency flair of Georgette Heyer with the intricate plotting of Julie Klassen, Wilson not only places herself competently amidst beloved authors but carves out a unique place of her own." —Rachel McMillan, author of the Van Buren and DeLuca Mysteries

"Beautifully written, suspenseful, and satisfyingly romantic." —Jennifer Beckstrand, author of Home on Huckleberry Hill

• Full-length Regency romance with a murder mystery (c. 95,000 words)
• Perfect for fans of Sarah Ladd, Deanna Raybourn, Julie Klassen, Tasha Alexander, and Lauren Willig
• Also by Abigail Wilson:
• Midnight on the River Grey
• Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey
• The Vanishing at Loxby Manor (available January 2021)
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jan 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9780785224105

Abigail Wilson

Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A registered nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the national parks, attending her daughter’s diving meets, and curling up with a great book. Abigail was a 2020 HOLT Medallion Merit Finalist, a 2017 Fab Five contest winner, and a Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence Finalist. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children. Connect with Abigail at acwilsonbooks.com; Instagram: @acwilsonbooks; Facebook: @ACWilsonbooks; Twitter: @acwilsonbooks.

Reviews for In the Shadow of Croft Towers

[Janie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written story which held my interest well. Have enjoyed all of this author’s books. The narrator does an excellent job although mispronounces some words which detracts somewhat but still overall very good job. Recommend this as well as author’s other regency books.

[Laina Scott · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stellar. Clean, historical mystery romance. I adore this author and this is one of my favorite of hers!

[Sue Farris · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Twists and turns in the plot…realistic characters…character growth…well worth a read.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For a debut novel, In The Shadow of Croft Towers by Abigail Wilson is pretty impressive. I found this Gothic-Regency romance to be very well-written and highly entertaining. There are plenty of mysterious doings — secret letters, highwaymen, murders — to keep a reader engaged, while a very plucky main character and a swoony hero satisfy all the romantic longings. I loved the first person account by Sybil Delafield, especially as she interjects her dry humor onto her account. The setting is perfect to accompany the suspense — moors and a mouldering old house. And the cast of characters cannot be trusted to reveal their true motives — I loved trying to figure out their secrets too.A quick read, if you enjoy historical romance with a good dose of mystery, this one is for you. I can’t wait to read Wilson’s other books!Highly Recommended.Audience: adults.(Thanks to Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[hes7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a splendid debut from Abigail Wilson. A Regency story full of danger, secrets, mystery, and romance, In the Shadow of Croft Towers is not to be skipped by readers of historical fiction. Sybil Delafield, from whose perspective the story is told, heads to Croft Towers to act as a companion to an elderly woman. This new setting and cast of characters that soon surround her lends themselves easily to the suspense and tension that permeate Sybil’s experience—an experience full of twists, turns, and revelations that kept me intrigued from beginning to end. I highly recommend In the Shadow of Croft Towers. If you’re in need of a captivating read, definitely check it out. Thanks to Celebrate Lit, I received a complimentary copy of In the Shadow of Croft Towers and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Coming to Croft Towers to be a companion to a Mrs. Chalcroft, Sybil Delafield brings along internal questions about her veiled background. But it seems most everyone at the Towers has something to hide, including Mrs. Chalcroft's godson, Mr. Sinclair. With private messages Sybil must deliver for Mrs. Chalcroft, Mr. Sinclair's double life, and unexplained murders cropping up, Sybil is drawn deeper into a web of secrets…In the Shadow of Croft Towers, a novel by author Abigail Wilson.A Gothic Regency romance with mystery and danger? Yes, please! I'll admit it took some time for me to get into this story, but I became more engrossed as the web of secrets here became more intricate. The intrigue carries through right to the end of the novel.Now, I didn't quite take to the heroine. I would've liked to see more compelling flashes of quickness or fire from her, but she seems so nervous, bumbling, and naïve much of the time, stammering and getting cut off, with romantic feelings bubbling for one man and then the next, even within a few minutes.As for some of the climactic moments in the last chapters, the characters are too quick to take a crucial piece of information as absolute fact, by word of a villain's mouth, without concrete proof or receiving confirmation from another source. Also, though it's pretty common in mysteries, I've never been a fan of villain monologues toward the finish. The more a villain puts into coherent words in the eleventh hour, the more it feels like an info-dump to wrap up everything the good guys couldn't or wouldn't otherwise figure out before the book is over.Nevertheless, this novel has much for fans of clean historical romance to enjoy._________BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review.

[maryannb1964 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

From debut author Abigail Wilson comes a mysterious Regency tale of secrets and spies, love and treachery. Orphaned Sybil Delafield jumps at the opportunity for a position at the mysterious Croft Towers. She believes she was hired to act as companion to a dying woman, but a highway robbery and a hostile welcome from the Chalcroft family cause her to wonder if she was actually hired to help someone spy for France. An unsolved murder adds intrigue to this already secretive family, and Sybil recognizes Mrs. Chalcroft’s handsome grandson as one of the infamous highwaymen who robbed her. Sybil must determine if this man’s charming smile and earnest eyes speak the truth or if he is simply using her like others in the house. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and Sybil must decide who to trust while also coming to terms with the truth about her own past.



My Thoughts: Abigail Wilson has written a wondrous novel full of mystery and intrigue. This story-line keeps the reader entertained throughout the novel; there is no lagging in the action. The characters are very entertaining and believable.


This is a story full of mystery, secrets and murder! Readers will truly enjoy this debut novel. I look forward to reading more from Abigail Wilson.

[harley0326 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It is not a very good start as Sybil is robbed on the way to her destination. I would be thinking about this time if I made the right decision to leave home. Arriving finally at Croft Towers, Sybil was intimidated by the size of the place . She has been hired to be a companion for to a woman who is in poor health. Sybil will soon question just what she is really there for when she is asked to deliver mysterious secret letters from her employer to someone who hides secret for profit. I would to explore Croft Towers with all the hidden rooms and spacious land that surrounds it. I loved the relationship between Sybil and Mrs. Chalcroft. The elderly lady is set in her ways but has a fondness for Sybil. Some members in the house seem to not like Sybil and it jealousy or mistrust is involved. There is an array of twists in the story and at times I wasn't sure who could be trusted. The story is a journey for Sybil as she finds herself with two gentleman wanting her attention. One is very arrogant and not respectful of women. I wanted him to disappear somewhere in the woods and slowly fade away from the story. The other gentleman is somewhat a mystery and Sybil will have to decide if she can trust either one. There is a few surprises in the book that will find Sybil wondering about her past. The book is good but at times I did find myself thinking there were too many characters to keep up with. It did take a while to find out what was really going on with the mysterious letters and the reason Sybil was involved in it. Overall for a first book, the author has written a good story that keeps readers entertained.I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I did not want to put this book down. There were so many twists and turns. First I wanted to know why Sybil came to Croft Towers. Then I needed to figure out who the spy was. This kept me guessing through the whole story. I loved the characters. Mrs. Chalcroft was one of my favorites. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[eamace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What do an orphan, a highwayman and a Lady have in common? I think it would be secrets - a great deal of them! This was a most entertaining book that certainly kept me guessing the whole time. So many secrets and with no answers forthcoming, I really was finding it difficult to trust anything the characters were saying. With unexplained deaths, letters to unknown people, soldiers for the crown and even French spies, the author has done a masterful job of making sure you read the whole book in one sitting.I received this ebook through CelebrateLit. All impressions and opinions are my own.

[stardust_fiddle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In spite of all the Regency rage sweeping the literary world, I myself have not read many books with that setting. This was both advantageous and detrimental with regard to my reading experience of Abigail Wilson’s “In the Shadow of Croft Towers.” Because I went into the book with no prior information, I found myself really pulled into the story. However, I wish that some background information would have been included, either within the narrative itself or as a prologue, to provide historical context. Being unfamiliar with the political situation in England during this time period, I did not understand what was happening with regard to that part of the plot. With that being said, the story was overall not difficult to follow, but I think that having a basic understanding of England’s situation would have clarified some aspects. “In the Shadow of Croft Towers” is what I would call a slow burn. There is suspense, but it plays out subtly. Seemingly disparate events come together bit by bit toward the end, like a tangle of thread that forms an intricate design. A key theme is identity. Sybil Delafield comes to Croft Towers in an effort to find out who she is, and in so doing sets off a chain reaction that makes the reader question if everyone is who they claim to be and what each person’s motivations are. Even though I figured out Sybil’s identity rather early on, the story still held some surprises for me, especially at the end, and that kept me turning the pages. I was reminded of Jane Eyre because of Sybil’s character and the foreboding location. Despite dealing with some heavy subjects, this book does not have graphic details or profanity and is a clean read. My quibble is that while it is marketed as Christian fiction, there was nothing in the book itself that distinguished it as such aside from two very vague mentions of God; it could just as easily be a clean secular read. Nevertheless, it was an interesting story with some unexpected twists that tied the narrative together in a nice package by the finale. I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a debut novel by Abigail Wilson that takes readers back to 1813. Sybil Delafield is twenty-two years old and has accepted a position as companion to Mrs. Chalcroft at Croft Towers. Sybil is traveling by Royal Mail coach along with Mrs. Plume and her lady’s maid, Thompkins. Along the way, the coach is stopped by armed highwayman who go through everyone’s belonging. One of the men even takes Sybil’s recommendation letter to Mrs. Chalcroft. Upon arriving at Chalcroft Towers, Sybil is met by Mrs. Chalcroft’s various relatives who are less than welcoming. She is surprised to recognize Mrs. Chalcroft’s godson, Curtis Sinclair as one of the highwaymen who attacked the mail coach. Instead of outing Sinclair, Sybil decides to keep his secret and it is just the first of many. It seems that everyone in Croft Towers has something to hide including Sybil and one person is willing to kill to keep their skeletons under wraps.In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a dark, mysterious novel. Sybil is an orphan who has been attending a London seminary courtesy of an anonymous benefactor. Unfortunately, the funding recently stopped. Sybil was lucky to get the position as Mrs. Chalcroft’s companion with the aid of her teacher, Mrs. Smith who is also a friend of Mrs. Chalcroft. Sybil recently received a letter and bracelet that gives her hope that she will find information about her parents at Croft Towers. Secrets abound at Croft Towers as Sybil soon discovers. Mrs. Chalcroft sends Sybil off on mysterious missions with letters, Sinclair disappears for hours and sometimes days, soldiers are scouring the countryside for the highwayman and spies for the French, Mrs. Chalcroft’s nieces and nephews each have their own agenda, and there is a hidden room in the overgrown garden. In the Shadow of Croft Towers is nicely written with gentle pacing. There are a variety of characters in the story. I would have liked the author to have taken the time to develop the characters further (more 2D than 3D). There are twists and turns that will have you quickly turning the pages to find out what happens next. In the Shadow of Croft Towers is a dark Regency story that contains mysteries, spies, murders, and romance.

[meganleigh844 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

“In the Shadow of Croft Towers,” from debut author Abigail Wilson, has easily become one of my favorite books of 2018! I love a good Gothic romance and this book is certainly just that. Ms. Wilson is very good at setting the Gothic tone. The story starts off with danger and a highway robbery during a storm. I was hooked! Our hesitant heroine, Sybil, arrives at house shrouded in mystery and secrets. There are all the elements for a perfect Gothic read in this story: mysterious rooms, hidden motives and identities, secrets and resident ghosts. Not only that, but Ms. Wilson is a fabulous writer. The story and writing style can be described as a mix of Dickens and Daphne du Maurier. I loved this book and looked forward to reading it every night! I highly recommend it!Content: I give this book a PG rating for some content. Some examples of the content are: the word devil is used; mention of a woman’s bosom; people drink alcohol; mention of illegitimate children; mention of “ravishing” a woman; a man is drunk and tries to apprehend a woman.Rating: I obviously give this book 5 stars!Genre: Christian fiction; Historical; Gothic; Regency; Mystery; RomanceI want to thank Abigail Wilson, Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255.