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Murder at Thornton Park (The Thornton Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition
Dragon statue. An ancient sword. A body on the doorstep.
What secret has remained hidden at Thornton Park for the last eighty years?
It’s 1927 in Victoria, Australia. A time after the Great War when women have more options opened to them.
At a weekend house party at Thornton Park, Alexandra Thornton decides to break the news to her father that she wants to be an antiques dealer, like her father, grandfather and great-grandfather before her.
Guests include Zhang Huo, a Chinese antiques dealer who, with his son, has brought a Ming dragon statue from China for Thomas Thornton, Alexandra’s father.
Benedict Archer, manager of Thornton Antiques in Melbourne, is also invited.
When Edith Blackburn, her friend since childhood, points out to Alexandra that Benedict is attracted to her, Alexandra can’t believe it.
Then a body is found on the doorstep, another in the orchard, and before the weekend is over, a priceless artefact is stolen.
Alexandra is determined to discover how these things are connected to the Ming dragon and the antiques her great-grandfather brought with him from Hong Kong so many years ago.
What treasure is worth killing to possess?
- Print length414 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateOctober 15, 2023
- File size2.7 MB
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Product details
- ASIN : B0CJDH7KGP
- Publisher : Easy Reads Publishing; 1st edition (October 15, 2023)
- Publication date : October 15, 2023
- Language : English
- File size : 2.7 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 414 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #2,035,164 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #549 in History of Australia & New Zealand
- #3,847 in 20th Century Historical Romance eBooks
- #8,110 in 20th Century Historical Romance (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Multi Award Winning, Multi Genre author, Ellen Read, was born in Queensland, Australia and lives in Brisbane with her husband, and some of her extended family.
When she’s not writing, she’s reading, painting or taking photographs.
Ellen particularly loves to read history and stories of ancient myths and legends. Authors such as Agatha Christie, Robert Graves, Mary Stewart, Edgar Allan Poe, and Victoria Holt have influenced her work.
Customer reviews
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Of course, I must have the new gorgeous editions!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2023Murder at Thornton Park is the revised edition of The Dragon Sleeps, the first book of the Thornton Mysteries. I have to admit the dead body in the first sentence is certainly a grabber! The addition of Molly, the Thornton family Labrador also gave the story a personal touch.
It’s 1927 in Victoria, Australia and women are discovering there are more options open to them . Alexandra has hopes and dreams of entering the family antique collection and business started by her great-grandfather. Of course, there’s also a budding love.
Murder at Thornton Park is a murder mystery, romance and historical fiction mixed with bits of ancient Chinese legend and mythology. Alex has astute observation skills when it comes to reading people, behavior and expressions. She also has a knack for discerning what isn’t said.. The characters are solidly built, however, it doesn’t take long for Alex to peel back some of the layers to reveal their true nature underneath. The romance between Alex and Benedict develops quickly under the watchful eye of Edie, Alex’s best friend. I enjoyed reading how this love story unfolds. Stardust now has a whole new meaning for me... Yes, I Googled “Stardust “!
Read has created a mystery series reminiscent of Agatha Christie, but it was more than that for me. What came to my mind was Nancy Drew which I devoured growing up. Perhaps, I’m reading too much into the similarities. It doesn’t really matter, though because I’m no longer 12. I’ve rekindled my love for mysteries. I’m hooked on The Thornton Mysteries. Of course, I must have the new gorgeous editions!
NOTE:
Each chapter has a time heading making it easy to keep up with the flow. Also included is a Glossary and Author’s Notes at the end. It may be best to peruse the Glossary before starting the first chapter.
A Fast Paced Mystery ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5.0 out of 5 starsMurder at Thornton Park is the revised edition of The Dragon Sleeps, the first book of the Thornton Mysteries. I have to admit the dead body in the first sentence is certainly a grabber! The addition of Molly, the Thornton family Labrador also gave the story a personal touch.Of course, I must have the new gorgeous editions!
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2023
It’s 1927 in Victoria, Australia and women are discovering there are more options open to them . Alexandra has hopes and dreams of entering the family antique collection and business started by her great-grandfather. Of course, there’s also a budding love.
Murder at Thornton Park is a murder mystery, romance and historical fiction mixed with bits of ancient Chinese legend and mythology. Alex has astute observation skills when it comes to reading people, behavior and expressions. She also has a knack for discerning what isn’t said.. The characters are solidly built, however, it doesn’t take long for Alex to peel back some of the layers to reveal their true nature underneath. The romance between Alex and Benedict develops quickly under the watchful eye of Edie, Alex’s best friend. I enjoyed reading how this love story unfolds. Stardust now has a whole new meaning for me... Yes, I Googled “Stardust “!
Read has created a mystery series reminiscent of Agatha Christie, but it was more than that for me. What came to my mind was Nancy Drew which I devoured growing up. Perhaps, I’m reading too much into the similarities. It doesn’t really matter, though because I’m no longer 12. I’ve rekindled my love for mysteries. I’m hooked on The Thornton Mysteries. Of course, I must have the new gorgeous editions!
NOTE:
Each chapter has a time heading making it easy to keep up with the flow. Also included is a Glossary and Author’s Notes at the end. It may be best to peruse the Glossary before starting the first chapter.
A Fast Paced Mystery ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023Set in Australia in 1927, it was very reminiscent of Christie with the atmosphere and mystery. The subject matter was interesting and the characters felt realistic. I loved Edie, and the romance was just so delightful. I can’t wait to read a second book!