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The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall
(2025)(The first book in the Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire series)
A novel by Syrie James
Book 1 in The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire by Syrie James
She vowed to solve a murder.
She never expected to risk her heart, or her life.
In 1865 Victorian England, spirited governess Diana Taylor arrives at windswept Pendowar Hall in Cornwall with a solemn mission: care for a troubled young girl and uncover the truth behind the suspicious death of the former baronet. Fiercely independent and disillusioned by love, Diana is determined to seek justice, even if it means stirring up scandal.
She didn’t count on Captain William Fallbrook.
The enigmatic Royal Navy officer, recently injured and home on leave, is as commanding as he is secretive. As Diana’s search for answers uncovers ghostly legends, unsettling footsteps, and chilling secrets within the estate’s shadowed halls, her guarded heart begins to falter… especially in the presence of the brooding captain whose gaze sees straight through her defenses.
But someone at Pendowar Hall is determined to keep the past buried—and silence Diana before the truth can come to light.
Tropes you’ll love:
✔ Victorian governess heroine
✔ Grumpy/sunshine pairing
✔ Brooding naval officer
✔ Slow-burn romantic mystery
✔ Haunted estate / gothic atmosphere
✔ Legend of a family curse
✔ Found family and emotional healing
✔ Strong heroine vs high society
A richly atmospheric Victorian mystery with danger, secrets, and romantic tension.
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire
Book 1 - The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall
Book 2 - The Secrets of Thorndale Manor
Book 3 - Danger at Darkmoor Park
Genre: Historical Mystery
She vowed to solve a murder.
She never expected to risk her heart, or her life.
In 1865 Victorian England, spirited governess Diana Taylor arrives at windswept Pendowar Hall in Cornwall with a solemn mission: care for a troubled young girl and uncover the truth behind the suspicious death of the former baronet. Fiercely independent and disillusioned by love, Diana is determined to seek justice, even if it means stirring up scandal.
She didn’t count on Captain William Fallbrook.
The enigmatic Royal Navy officer, recently injured and home on leave, is as commanding as he is secretive. As Diana’s search for answers uncovers ghostly legends, unsettling footsteps, and chilling secrets within the estate’s shadowed halls, her guarded heart begins to falter… especially in the presence of the brooding captain whose gaze sees straight through her defenses.
But someone at Pendowar Hall is determined to keep the past buried—and silence Diana before the truth can come to light.
Tropes you’ll love:
✔ Victorian governess heroine
✔ Grumpy/sunshine pairing
✔ Brooding naval officer
✔ Slow-burn romantic mystery
✔ Haunted estate / gothic atmosphere
✔ Legend of a family curse
✔ Found family and emotional healing
✔ Strong heroine vs high society
A richly atmospheric Victorian mystery with danger, secrets, and romantic tension.
Read in Kindle Unlimited!
The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire
Book 1 - The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall
Book 2 - The Secrets of Thorndale Manor
Book 3 - Danger at Darkmoor Park
Genre: Historical Mystery
Praise for this book
"James kicks off her new series 'The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire' with The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall, a wonderfully atmospheric and suspenseful tale brimming with everything that fans of Victorian historical romance and mystery love: a bright and feisty heroine, a perfectly Gothic coastal estate full of secrets, and the brooding and mysterious navy captain in charge of it all." - Natalie Jenner
"Another stunning James tale that sweeps you into a mystery and romance which has to be read to be believed." - Emily E K Murdoch
"With its gothic Cornwall setting, a brooding master of the Hall, and a spirited, engaging heroine, this novel of romantic suspense is a charmer -- a must-read for fans of Poldark." - Karen Odden
"An engaging and charming start to The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire series, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall is a delectable gothic romance that hits all the right notes: a mysterious hero, a plucky governess, and a family curse. Syrie James keeps the pages turning in this affectionate tribute to the beloved mysteries of Victoria Holt and Jane Eyre." - Kris Waldherr
"Another stunning James tale that sweeps you into a mystery and romance which has to be read to be believed." - Emily E K Murdoch
"With its gothic Cornwall setting, a brooding master of the Hall, and a spirited, engaging heroine, this novel of romantic suspense is a charmer -- a must-read for fans of Poldark." - Karen Odden
"An engaging and charming start to The Audacious Sisterhood of Smoke & Fire series, The Mysteries of Pendowar Hall is a delectable gothic romance that hits all the right notes: a mysterious hero, a plucky governess, and a family curse. Syrie James keeps the pages turning in this affectionate tribute to the beloved mysteries of Victoria Holt and Jane Eyre." - Kris Waldherr
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