What Happened at the Abbey (The Strathbairn Trilogy #1) by Isobel Blackthorn

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Ingrid flees a violent husband to become a housekeeper in the Scottish Highlands, she discovers the family she works for has a much darker history than her own.

Who haunts Strathbairn? Why are the adult McCleod children at each other’s throats? And why does the youngest sneak off at night? As Ingrid searches for answers, she grows ever more fearful that her husband will track her down.

Set in late 19th century Scottish Highlands, WHAT HAPPENED AT THE ABBEY is a gothic mystery brimming with intrigue, ghostly drama, and family secrets.

MY REVIEW

This book is filled with mystery and intrigue. The setting of the Scottish highlands adds to the atmosphere, with its rugged beauty and isolation.

Ingrid flees her home due to the abuse she endures from her husband, Edward. She takes her daughter with her and heads to the Scottish highlands to work as a housekeeper for the eccentric McCleod family.

Each member of the family seems to be keeping dark secrets, and Ingrid feels increasingly isolated and alone. Fortunately for Ingrid, she finds a friend in Hamish, who helps her navigate the strange and unsettling world of Strathbairn House. But as Ingrid uncovers the truth about the house’s history and the people who live there, she realizes that she’s facing an awful choice.

I feel for Ingrid’s horrible past and her lonely existence. The tension is more palpable as Ingrid gets closer to the surprising conclusion and also ends with a subtle cliffhanger.

If you enjoy suspenseful novels with a gothic atmosphere and compelling and mysterious characters, pick up this book.

Thank you to Ms. Blackthorn for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Strathbairn Trilogy

1. What Happened at the Abbey (2023)
2. Secrets Taken to the Grave (2025) – My review
3. The Haunting of Willows Cottage (2025)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isobel Blackthorn is a prolific novelist of unique and engaging fiction. She writes across a range of genres, including gripping mysteries and dark psychological thrillers.

The Unlikely Occultist: A biographical novel of Alice A. Bailey received an Honorable Mention in the 2021 Reader’s Favorite book awards. A Prison in the Sun was shortlisted in the LGBTQ category of the 2021 International Book Awards and the 2020 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. Her short story ‘Nothing to Declare’ was shortlisted for the Ada Cambridge Prose Prize 2019. Her dark thriller A Legacy of Old Gran Parks won a Raven Award in 2019. The Cabin Sessions was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award 2018 and the Ditmar Awards 2018.

Isobel holds a PhD in Western Esotericism from the University of Western Sydney for her ground-breaking study of the texts of Theosophist Alice A. Bailey. Her engagement with Alice Bailey’s life and works has culminated in the biographical novel The Unlikely Occultist and the full biography Alice A. Bailey: Life and Legacy.

Isobel carries a lifelong passion for the Canary Islands, Spain, her former home. Six of her novels are set on the islands of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. These standalone mystery novels are setting rich and fall into the broad genre of travel fiction.

Isobel has led a rich and interesting life and her stories are as diverse as her experiences, the highs and lows, and the dramas. A life-long campaigner for social justice, Isobel has written, protested and leant her weight to a range of issues including asylum seekers and family violence. A Londoner originally, Isobel currently lives in the Canary Islands, Spain.

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