BLOG TOUR: The Spiral Path (The Aunt Lily Yorkshire Dales Mysteries Book 2) - Anthony Aberford

When a ley line is discovered running between York and Carlisle, the women of the Ilkley Wellness Centre can't resist organising a tour to explore it. But the path they follow leads somewhere far stranger than any of them bargained for.

A series of mysterious encounters draws them and their guests deep into the Yorkshire Dales, where ancient monoliths, abbey ruins and cave carvings hold secrets that have lain hidden for centuries. With the enigmatic Aunt Lily's help, they must piece together the truth before it's too late.

Their past adventures have taught them that hidden passages between realms exist, and some would exploit them for their own ends. As dark forces close in, the friends must believe the unbelievable, follow the Tarot and trust each other completely, as the strength of their friendship and the limits of their belief are tested to the extreme.

Full of white and dark magic, strange apparitions, hapless witches and women with old knowledge, The Spiral Path is a magical mystery tour through the Yorkshire Dales with surprising consequences.

This wonderfully engaging cosy mystery with a thriller's edge is perfect for fans of Janice Hallett and Richard Osman.

 

What did I think?

Having loved meeting Aunt Lily in The Conservatory, I couldn't wait to continue her adventures in The Spiral Path.  You can definitely read The Spiral Path as a standalone as Anthony Aberford reminds us of any pertinent points from the first book.

I love the character of Aunt Lily; she is so mysterious, entertaining and charming.  The ladies of the Wellness Centre find themselves in need of Aunt Lily's help once again when exploring some local ley lines unearths something quite unexpected.  Eeek!  I couldn't read fast enough as the danger levels increased and anything can happen when there's dark magic involved.

Once again, Anthony Aberford brings these wonderful characters to life with his vivid and descriptive writing.  I could easily visualise them in my head and I could almost hear them speaking to me.  I think this would make a fantastic TV series.

Filled with magic and danger, The Spiral Path is a spine chilling read that entertained me from start to finish.  It's the perfect read for the cold, dark nights and I am happy to recommend it.

I received a gifted ARC for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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Hobeck Books

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BLOG TOUR: The Conservatory (The Aunt Lily Yorkshire Dales Mysteries Book 1) - Anthony Aberford

Some secrets are best left buried; others are better never planted!

In a restored Victorian conservatory, four grieving women from the local wellness centre discover that their friend's mysterious death, amongst her toxic plants, was not an accident.

When eccentric homoeopath Aunt Lily arrives on her tricycle, she seems just the person to help uncover answers. But who is she really, and why is she there?

A sixteenth-century journal hidden in the conservatory holds dark secrets that could change everything. And an enigmatic stranger will stop at nothing to find it – making false promises and real threats.

Can the friends resist his temptations and unlock the book's hidden secrets in time? Do they have the strength to make an impossible choice before it is too late?

A creepy tale of intrigue and suspense, full of witty and charming characters, this brand-new cosy mystery novel is perfect for fans of Richard Osman, Jill Johnson and Janice Hallett who like their tea with a twist of tension.

 

What did I think?

I have to start my review of The Conservatory by mentioning the amazing cover.  It is absolutely stunning and it entices the reader to discover the dark but enchanting story inside.

Aunt Lily is a wonderful character; she is so mysterious, quirky and vividly described that she virtually pops out from the page.  Aunt Lily reminded me of Mary Poppins the way she turns up in such an unusual and unforgettable way so I loved her the moment I met her.  She has arrived just in time to help a group of women investigate the death of their friend.  It looked like an accident but it was murder!

The story is interspersed with extracts from a mysterious 16th century book and I loved how Anthony Aberford weaves this into the story.  It does get quite dark with almost a good versus evil tussle to get hold of the book and I really enjoyed this imaginative and tense supernatural element.

Incredibly intriguing and completely captivating, The Conservatory is a fantastic introduction to a new series and I can't wait to meet up with Aunt Lily again.  This is pure escapism and I loved it.

I received a gifted paperback to read and review for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

Hobeck Books

Amazon

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